Some of the world`s most durable leather products are made using cow hides. They are the most widely available in the market having great strength that’s important for a bag to handle weight. Modern tanning and dyeing processes provide cow leather that make for attractive bags and accessories providing them with character and personality. However, there is another friend to cows and calves that is much less talked about when it comes to leather sourcing and that is Buffalo. Similar to cow hides in characteristics, still uniquely different.
In an earlier article Types of leather hides, skins & their use, we talked about durability and characteristics of leather procured from different animal sources. Today, we will put two heavy weights together, cow leather in comparison to buffalo leather and see what similarities and difference do they possess.
Topic Outline
Sourcing
As obvious by its name, cow leather is obtained from mature cows and their calves while Buffalo leather is procured from different varieties of buffalo breeds found in different region of the world i.e. Asian water buffalo, North American Bison, African cape buffalo to name a few.
Availability
Cow leather is easier to procure thanks to a wider and dense distribution of cow population worldwide as compared to buffalo population. According to an estimate, more than half of leather goods manufactured worldwide are done using cowhides. Furthermore, cow leather is procured from meat and dairy industry which churns out higher amounts of leather as beef itself is in high demand. Buffaloes are more widely employed to plough agricultural lands and produce milk hence, leather availability from this source is more muted as compared to cows and calves.
Strength And Thickness
Leather thickness and strength is subject to different grades of leather. Considering the top most layer of a skin i.e. full grain leather grade, right under the hair which is un buffed and untouched, buffalo hide is atleast twice as thick as cow hide. Furthermore, cow hides are stretched much more during tanning process for better dyeing and absorption, hence losing some of their strength as compared to buffalo leather, which is not stretched much as manufacturers intend to preserve its uniquely vibrant grain detail. This makes full grain buffalo leather, one of the toughest leather you can buy.
Natural Appearance
The natural grain of a buffalo skin, if not buffed is the most distinct and naturally vibrant among leather skins obtained from various animal sources. The natural granular pattern on the skin is highly visible and quite unique. Cow hide grain is also vibrant and it reflects in the beautiful bags and accessories that are manufactured using this leather source but it`s quite safe to say that if we compare the two, buffalo leather is more beautiful in its natural appearance and grain detail as compared to cow leather.
Natural Suppleness & Elasticity
The best thing about cow and buffalo leather is, both are sturdy yet supple and elastic enough to make sturdier versions of items that are normally manufactured using leather e.g. jackets, leather briefcases, backpacks, duffle bags, belts, shoes etc. They aren’t too soft like sheepskin leather or too rigid like goatskin leather. However, you need skilled artisans to deal with these leathers who have experience in dealing with large leather panels. Craftsmen who know how to minimize waste, cut and craft efficiently from different even and uneven parts of a leather panel. As you know, working with leather hides is a skill, dealing with cow and buffalo leather hides requires expert craftsmanship.
Concluding Note
Buffalo leather carries considerable weight as compared to cow leather which is also considered a thick leather source. Both leather types are considered a suitable option to manufacture leather jackets, leather bags and other accessories that are supposed to keep you warm, handle weight or face abuse during their functional life. Leather sofas, belts, upholstery etc. are other items that employ cow and buffalo leather for their obvious natural strength and durability. Lastly, buffalo leather might have a very prominent grain detail and rich appearance, but it`s not necessary that its texture should be everybody`s cup of tea and a customer might as well want to go for the slightly more uniform cow leather`s look and feel.
You may also like
-500x500.JPG)
