Uses of Animal Skins in Fashion Industry

Animal Skins Used for Clothing

Some materials used for apparel and accessories are not made from woven, knitted, or nonwoven manmade textiles but rather from animal skins, hides, or pelts. Animal skins come from small animals and hides from larger animals. Among many animal skins fur and leather are widely used. Fur and leather have long held prestigious places in the fashion industry, serving as symbols of luxury, durability, and timeless style. Uses of fur and leather have played a vital role in shaping the global fashion industry. Their unique properties and visual appeal have inspired designers for centuries, leading to their use in a wide array of garments and accessories. In this article I will explore various fur and leather and their uses in fashion industry.

Fur

Fur is valued for its warmth, texture, and visual appeal. Fur is a dressed (preserved) animal pelt containing both skin and hair of the animal. The use of animal pelts or fur as clothing dates far back to ancient times. As early as 2000 CE, people in the Far East used animal fur not only as protection from the cold but also as luxury items. The use of fur for clothing has been happening for centuries. Fur is traditionally associated with social standing, be it royalty, leadership, rank, wealth, or another distinction within a social group.

Today, faux fur is made out of synthetic fibers such as acrylic and polyester and surpasses the use of real fur. However, before synthetic fibres were available, most winter outdoor garments were made of animal fur.

Furs include:

1. Beaver
2. Broadtail sheep
3. Borrego
4. Calf
5. Chinchilla
6. Ermine
7. Fox
8. Kangaroo
9. Kid
10. Lynx
11. Mink
12. Muskrat
13. Mongolian sheep and lamb
14. Nutria
15. Persian lamb
16. Pony
17. Rabbit
18. Raccoon
19. Sable
20. Seal
21. Sheep
22. Squirrel
23. Wolf

Dressing: Chemical process to preserve fur to maintain suppleness and prevent rotting.

Pelt: Fur that has not been chemically processed.

List of Uses of Fur in Clothing

Uses of fur in fashion industry includes:

Leather

Leather is renowned for its durability, versatility, and timeless appeal, making it one of the most utilized materials in fashion. Leather is the skin or hide of an animal that is chemically processed into one of a variety of surfaces, thicknesses, and colors. Referred to as smooth leather, suede, or split leather, each skin differs in size, color, and surface markings. The irregular shape of a finished skin is determined by the animal. Skins and hides are sold by the square foot. Each skin is marked at the tail end on the wrong side, indicating its total length. The thickness of the skin determines the number of ounces (grams) that 1 square foot equals. Chemical processing maintains the suppleness and prevents rotting.

Leather is used in clothing and is divided into two categories—hides and skins. Hides are from large animals such as cows and are thicker than skins. Skins are from small animals, such as sheep or goats, and are thinner than hides. Top-grain refers to the outside skin. If a thick hide is split, the leather is called split hide and is usually napped to produce a soft surface. Top-grain leather is the best quality and most durable.

Leather is tanned and chemically treated to maintain and soften it while preserving the material. Leather is irregular in thickness, depending on the area of the skin that is used. It is also important to remember that leather is not yardage, so the available surface area is dependent on the size of the skin or hide.

Leather can be tanned and finished to be:

• Patent—shiny, glossy surface.
• Glacé—hard, polished surface.
• Natural grain surface—natural skin surface.
• Embossed—image pressed into the surface.

Leather finishing is extremely varied, and different finishing techniques are applied that reflect the current fashion trends. Once the leather has been tanned, dyes and surface treatments are added.

Animal skins and hides used for leather apparel and accessories products include:

1. Alligator (endangered)
2. Elephant (endangered)
3. Lizard
4. Ostrich
5. Buckskin
6. Elk
7. Pigskin
8. Crocodile
9. Goatskin, kidskin
10. Snakeskin
11. Eel skin
12. Horse, pony
13. Sheepskin,
14. Calfskin, cowhide
15. Kangaroo lambskin
16. Deerskin, doeskin

Split Leather:
From a thick hide that is processed into thinner sheets to obtain a rough surface on both sides.

Suede:
Suede is a leather that has been brushed or otherwise napped for a soft, velvet-like texture. It is considered a luxurious material because of its soft hand and its pliable drape. The flesh side of the hide or skin that is processed to obtain a soft nap on the surface.

Tanning:
Chemical process to preserve leather to maintain suppleness and prevent rotting.

Top-Grain:
Leather Outer surface of the hide or skin with the hair removed.

Faux leather:
Faux leather is nonporous, so the fabric doesn’t allow air to pass through. Therefore, it can be uncomfortably hot compared to leather that is porous. It sometimes has a “plastic” odor. Faux leather can be used on all the same products as real leather and suede, such as shoes, handbags, accessories, jackets, pants, and skirts.

List of Uses of Leather in Clothing

Uses of leather in fashion industry includes:

Conclusion

Fur and leather have long held prominent roles in the fashion industry, admired for their luxurious textures, durability, and timeless style. In recent years, uses of fur and leather has sparked ethical debates, leading to significant shifts in the fashion world. The rise of high-quality faux fur and vegan leather offers cruelty-free, sustainable options that replicate the look and feel of natural materials.

References

[1] Bubonia, J. E. (2017). Apparel production terms and processes. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501315602

[2] Markova, I. (2019). Textile Fiber Microscopy: A Practical approach. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781119320029

[3] Baugh, G. (2011). The fashion Designer’s textile directory. B.E.S. Publishing.

Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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