| Every kind of leather has its own unique tanning and | | | | must be carefully clipped. |
| finishing process - however, the exotic leathers that | | | | 5) High Maintenance Processing - Only an expert |
| are the most complex to tan are alligator, crocodile | | | | tanner understands the patience and dedication to the |
| and ostrich. Here is an overview of the peculiar | | | | craft of leather making to produce a high quality |
| high-maintenance differences of these amazing animal | | | | finished hide in crocodile, alligator, or ostrich. Any |
| skins from standard cowhide leather you should know: | | | | mistakes in the process can make a perfectly tanned |
| 1) Coloring and Finishing - With a high quality tanned | | | | hide an inferior low-grade product. Being an exotic |
| hide, some of the finest handiwork is done to create a | | | | animal (and often a regulated species), skins require |
| finished material. The coloring and finishing process will | | | | tagging and must meet the regulations of the country |
| determine the ultimate look and feel of the finished skin. | | | | of origin for inspections. |
| Ostrich skin is very particular and requires very careful | | | | 6) Skins are graded by size - Cowhide leather is much |
| coloring and finishing to prevent creating holes in the | | | | easier to produce than crocodile, alligator, or ostrich and |
| sensitive pock-marks. Professional tanneries will only | | | | is often sold in large measurements. In contrast, every |
| use the best quality finishes and dyes for their | | | | extra centimeter or inch of an exotic hide increases its |
| products. | | | | value, so a professional tanner will do everything they |
| 2) Quality measurements and processing is much | | | | can to maximize the size, finish, and quality of every |
| different - Cowhide leather can be easily | | | | square cm/inch of the material and trim the least |
| mass-produced with fewer quality measurements. | | | | amount off as possible. |
| Alligator, crocodile, and ostrich skin require much more | | | | 7) Proprietary Tanning and Re-Tanning Process - |
| maintenance - these exotic sins cannot be processed | | | | Each professional tanner has their own "special blend" |
| in large batches, they require extra steps and time, and | | | | of tanning ingredients to produce the highest quality |
| the maturity rate of the animal is often slower and | | | | luxury skins. Alligator, crocodile, and ostrich hides are no |
| offers less availability than regular cowhide. Only a truly | | | | exception, and an experience tanner will use their |
| professional exotic leather tanner can produce a | | | | special tanning sauce to craft the best quality materials. |
| quality hide free of holes, defects, and inconsistencies. | | | | A good tanner also includes an anti-fungal mixture if |
| 3) Bleaching the Skins - Skins are bleached to remove | | | | the skins may be stored for a long period of time to |
| any existing pigmentation in the skins. This ultimately | | | | prevent the growth and increase the life of the skins. |
| forms a "crust" which is basically a colorless hide that | | | | 8) Tanning and Finishing chemicals must be precise - |
| is ready for tanning and finishing in any Pantone color. | | | | Only a professional tanner knows the exact |
| Hazardous ingredients are used in this process, which | | | | measurements of the chemicals needed to produce a |
| also requires proper ventilation, equipment, storage, and | | | | luxury grade exotic skin hide in crocodile, alligator, and |
| draining tools to do correctly and safely. | | | | ostrich. Whereas cowhide is easy to tan in |
| 4) Liming Procedures are Different - Liming is a | | | | comparison, mistakes in measurements of tanning |
| process used to remove the outer layer of skin. This | | | | chemicals for exotics can ruin an expensive animal |
| process is tricky and must be monitored closely. After | | | | hide. |
| liming has commenced for several days, "de-liming" is | | | | There are thousands of fine leather craftsmen all over |
| done with the help of Ammonium Chloride and the | | | | the world, often specializing in tanning specific exotic |
| chemicals are properly recycled or disposed of. Once | | | | animal skins with decades of experience that they |
| this is completed, each crocodile, alligator, or ostrich skin | | | | pass on to future generations. |