Materials
The following list illustrates some common materials that designers use for their products, and the materials that we welcome into our space.
Cow Leather
This is the most common of leathers where the material is created through the tanning of cattle hide.
Calf Leather
Also made from cattle hide, only this comes from the hide of calves, lending a smoother, softer touch to the leather.
Sheepskin/Lambskin
Similar to calf leather, but these have an even finer grain, giving them a softer touch. Lambskin is also known for its non-scratch qualities.
Patent Leather
This leather has a plastic coating on the surface of the leather, producing a high-gloss or matte finish.
Suede
Suede leather is a type of leather with a napped finish and is made from the underside of the skin, giving it a thinner, softer texture. Primarily from lamb, suede is also commonly derived from goat, pig, calf and deer skins.
Nubuck
This is made from top-grain cattle hide that has been buffed on the grain side (exterior) to give a slight nap of short protein fibres, producing a luxurious, velvet-like surface.
Vachetta Leather
This is leather that is left untreated and is therefore susceptible to water and stains. Sunlight will cause the naturally pale leather to darken in shade. Vachetta leather is commonly used in trimmings and handles (popularised by Louis Vuitton!).
Ostrich Leather
Ostrich leather is unmistakable in its appearance. It is characterised by raised points (quill follicles) where a feather used to reside. Tough and unique!
Snakeskin
Snakeskin is so exotic and so rare that it is commonly reproduced by embossing regular leather.
Crocodile Leather
Another exotic leather, this type of skin was once rigid and hard. Now, a Botox treatment gives the leather a glossy look, and a soft, supple touch.
Deerskin
Deerskin is one of the toughest leathers around, partially due to adaptations to their thorny, thicket-filled habitats. They command a high price due to the relative rarity and proven durability.
Canvas
The most common of fabrics used is canvas. This is commonly made from extremely heavy-duty plain-woven cotton which makes the material sturdy.
Patent Canvas
Similar to canvas, except that this has a plastic coating on either one or both surfaces (either glossy or matte). The plastic coating serves as a protection against soiling which make it easier to maintain compare to normal canvas.
Nylon
Nylon is a thermoplastic material. This synthetic fabric is similar to silk and satin to touch, it has a less glossy surface compared to silk.
Satin
This fabric is woven of fibers such as silk, nylon or polyester, and typically has a glossy surface on one side, and a dull surface on the other
Straw
Straw bags and hats have been classic summer accessories for years. Straw is made from the dry stalk of a cereal plant, after the grain or seed has been removed.
Velvet
Velvet is a rich, lustrous material ideally made from silk, and is a woven, tufted fabric. Some cheaper velvet are also made from synthetic fabrics.
