Lather Jacket

Which leather is right for you?

Here's a quick guide to some of the most common types of leather. And if you're wondering, technically speaking, there is a simple difference between skins and hides - hides are the pelts of large animals, whereas skins come from small animals.The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is extremely strict regarding these leathers, so when you buy in the UK from a reputable retailer you can be confident that your purchase will conform to the highest standards.

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• Calfskin: This is a leather from the hide of a calf. Typically, it is less than three years old. Calfskin is particularly soft, with a fine grain, and is very durable.
• Shearling: This is skin from a recently sheared sheep that has been tanned and dressed with the wool left on. It has a suede surface on one side and a clipped fur surface on the other. It can be worn with either surface out.
• Ostrich: This is usually farmed in South Africa and is distinctive for its pattern of bumps. The intricate and specialised production process makes it an expensive material.
• Ponyskin: This is often a misnomer - the "ponyskin" used by designers is, in reality, more often calfskin. If in doubt, you should check before buying.
• Alligator and Crocodile: These are similar in texture and pattern, and are both composed from square and oblong scales known as tiles. To tell the difference, if you examine them closely you will see that some skins have little dots close to the scale edge (crocodile), and others don't (alligator) - these are hair follicles. Alligator is usually considered the finer skin, but croc is harder-wearing.

Collected From: GQ