Get in Touch With Animal Instincts With This Leather Lexicon

Leather is no longer confined to rebels without causes. Fortunately, this omnipresent item created from the hairless, tanned hide of an animal, reptile, marine life or bird, comes in a variety of finishes, including:

* Calfskin: Supple and fine-grained, it can be either glazed (producing a shiny finish), sueded (napped to raise hair fibers for a soft finish), boarded (producing soft creased leather), embossed (a stamped pattern for “animal-like” effect) or waxed. It is used primarily for shoes, handbags, belts and wallets.

* Chamois: Found mostly in shirts, it’s very soft and feels similar to suede.

* Cowhide: Heavy and stiff, it is used for motorcycle jackets or other heavy protection clothing.

* Distressed leather: Created with a tanning process that produces uneven coloration and markings, it has a weathered look.

* Lambskin: One of the softest leathers, it is mostly featured in expensive, high-fashion garments.

* Napa: When hides are split, they are cut horizontally. This leather is the fine surface (the top grain of the soft leather hide) and it’s texture may be smooth, shiny or pebbly.

* Nubuck: This has a very fine nap (sometimes smoother than suede). Some fashionable finishes, however, are dull and tough. It’s mainly used for shoes, boots, jackets and pants.

* Ostrich: Used for fine shoes and handbags, it has a distinctive, textured pattern.

* Suede: Made from buffing the underside of a hide, it resembles a velvet-like nap. It is used for gloves, vests, trimmings, pants, skirts, jackets and dresses.

* Ultra-suede: A manufactured material, it’s expensive and found mostly in upscale men’s and women’s sportswear.