Several kinds of leather commonly used for manufacturing safety shoes

Genuine Leather

Genuine leather is derived from the hides of animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and deer. After tanning and processing in a leather factory, it becomes a versatile material with unique characteristics, including texture, strength, color, and patterns. It serves as a fundamental component in modern leather products. Among these, cowhide, sheepskin, and pigskin are the most commonly used types in leather production. The dermis of animal skins is typically divided into two layers: the top layer and the second layer.

(1) The top layer of the skin, such as cowhide, sheepskin, or pigskin, features a grain surface with natural imperfections like scars, blood marks, and occasional knife wounds from the processing stage. These imperfections often result in low utilization rates. Imported hides and domestic cattle are also categorized by specific numbers. Full-grain leather can be distinguished from other animal skins based on the size and density of their pores. There are various types of cowhide, including beef, grazing cows, bullskins, and castrated bulls. In China, you'll find yellow leather, buffalo leather, and yak leather. Buffalo hides have coarser and sparser pores, while yellow leather has finer and denser ones. Sheepskin pores are smaller, denser, and slightly slanted. Common types include sheep and goat skins. Wild boar skin, especially from South America, is known for its distinct grain pattern and soft texture due to its unique collagen structure, making it ideal for garments and gloves. Other exotic leathers include ostrich, crocodile, lizard, snake, bullfrog, and fish skins, all of which are easily identifiable and not suitable for second-layer processing.

The first layer of skin is directly processed from raw animal hides, or in cases where the hide is thick, it is cut into upper and lower layers. The upper part, composed of tightly packed fibers, is processed into premium leather.

(2) The second layer of skin consists of looser fibrous tissue and is usually coated with chemicals, PVC, or PU films. A reliable way to distinguish between the first and second layers is by examining the fiber density in the longitudinal section. The first layer has a dense, thin fiber layer combined with a slightly looser overlayer, offering excellent strength, elasticity, and processability. The second layer, however, only has loose fibers and requires chemical treatments or polishing before use. While it retains some natural elasticity, its strength is weaker, and its thickness is more uniform compared to the first layer. Although there are many types of leather used today, the identification method remains consistent across different processes.

Recycled Leather

Recycled leather is made by crushing various animal hides and leather scraps and combining them with chemical materials. Its surface treatment is similar to that of leather trimmings and embossed leather. This type of leather has a neat edge, high utilization rate, and is more affordable, but it tends to be thicker and less durable. It's mainly used for budget-friendly items like document cases, drawstring bags, club covers, and flat belts. When examined under a cross-section, the fibrous structure appears uniform, and you can see the coagulation effect of mixed fibers.

Leatherette

Leatherette, also known as imitation leather or synthetic leather, refers to artificial materials such as PVC and PU. It is manufactured using textiles or non-woven fabrics and is processed through foaming or laminating techniques. It offers a wide range of options in terms of strength, wear resistance, cold resistance, color, shine, and design. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and cost-effective compared to real leather. However, most artificial leather lacks the softness and flexibility of genuine leather. When cut vertically, you can see fine bubbles, fabric layers, or dry man-made fibers. Despite its limitations, leatherette has been popular since the early days and is widely used in leather products or parts of leather materials. With advancing technology, it is now commonly used in the production of two-layer leather.

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