by Leather | Leather Questions
Enzymes play an important role in the production of leather. From leather jackets and vests to skirts, dresses, belts and more, nearly all leather products are exposed to enzymes during production. Leather consists of animal hide. There are different types of leather. Some types are made of sheepskin, whereas others are made of goat or cowhide. During production, however, manufacturers will expose the animal hide to enzymes. What are enzymes exactly, and how are they are used in leather? The Basics of Enzymes Enzymes are defined as catalytic proteins, meaning they trigger or accelerate chemical reactions. Research has shown that they are able to catalyze over 5,000 types of reactions. While other substances can trigger or accelerate chemical reactions as well, enzymes specifically trigger or accelerate chemical reactions in biological cells, such as animal hide. Animal hide is the foundation of all types of leather. With that said, leather doesn’t consist of raw animal hide. To convert animal hide into leather, manufacturers must process it. Leather processing includes multiple stages. One of the first stages of leather processing is preparing the animal hide for tanning, which includes bathing it in an enzyme solution. The enzymes used in leather production exhibit specific properties. They typically hydrolyze compounds like elastin and casein, for instance. As a result, enzymes can break down certain parts of animal hide. Manufacturers, though, must choose enzymes that are safe for leather. The enzymes used in leather production must not break down or otherwise damage collagen or keratin. Animal hide typically contains collagen and keratin. If broken down, it may become weaker. How Enzymes Are Used in...
by Leather | Leather Shorts
As the weather continues to get warmer, you may want to trade in your jeans and other full-length trousers for shorts. Shorts are more comfortable to wear during this time of year. They won’t leave you feeling hot. Since they only extend partially down, shorts feel cooler than full-length trousers. Rather than buying just another pair of ordinary shorts, though, you should consider choosing leather shorts. #1) Made of Real Leather You can rest assured knowing that leather shorts are made of real leather. While some stores sell shorts — along with other garments — that are made of faux leather, all of the leather shorts sold here at LeatherCult are made of real leather. Our leather shorts are made of 100% real, premium leather. You can even find leather shorts made of napa leather. Napa leather received its namesake from Napa, California where it was originally pioneered. It’s used to make everything from leather jackets and belts to leather shorts, shirts and other garments. When made of napa leather, shorts have a super-soft texture that’s gentle on the skin. #2) Available in Cargo Styles Leather shorts are available in cargo styles. Known as cargo leather shorts, they are characterized by deep pockets. Most leather shorts have pockets. You can usually find two pockets on the front and another two pockets on the back. Cargo leather shorts may feature this same pocket configuration as well. The difference is that cargo leather shorts have bigger, deeper pockets than traditional leather shorts. With their deep pockets, cargo leather shorts are convenient. Many people prefer them over traditional shorts because they offer...
by Leather | Leather Accessories
Belts aren’t the only fashion accessories made of leather. In addition to belts, you can find wristbands made of leather. Leather wristbands can enhance just about any casual outfit. Whether you’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt or shorts and a polo shirt, you may want to accessorize your outfit with a leather wristband. How do you choose a leather wristband exactly? Look for a Real Leather Construction Don’t assume that all leather wristbands are made of real leather. While some of them are, in fact, made of real leather, others are made of faux leather. Faux leather is artificial leather. It consists of a substrate that’s coated in a synthetic, plastic-like material. Wristbands made of faux leather are typically cheaper than those made of real leather. As the saying goes, however, you get what you pay for. Faux leather wristbands are typically weaker and more susceptible to damage than real leather wristbands. Furthermore, they aren’t as soft. You’ll get more use — and experience a higher level of comfort — by choosing a wristband made of real leather. You can find leather wristbands made of napa leather. Napa leather is real leather. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s just any ordinary type of leather. Napa leather has a finer grain than that of most other types of leather. The fine grain of napa leather results in a super-smooth, almost silk-like texture. Stick With a Classic Color While leather wristbands are available in dozens of colors, you should typically stick with a classic. Classic colors include brown and black. Leather garments have featured these two classic colors...
by Leather | Leather Shirts
If you love the unique look and feel of leather, you should consider investing in a leather t-shirt. Jackets aren’t the only garments made of leather. You can find shorts, vests and even t-shirts made of leather as well. Leather t-shirts are made of the same leather material as leather jackets. As a result, they share many of the same benefits. If this is your first time hearing about leather t-shirts, though, you may have some questions. You can learn more about leather t-shirts by reading the following guide. What Is a Leather T-Shirt? A leather t-shirt is exactly what it sounds like: a casual upper-body garment that features a leather construction. T-shirts receive their namesake from their appearance. When laid on a flat surface, they resemble the letter “T.” Leather t-shirts are no exception. If you lay a leather t-shirt on a flat surface, it will take the shape of the letter “T.” While all t-shirts resemble the letter “T,” they are available in different materials. Some of them are made of an organic material, whereas others are made of a synthetic material. Leather t-shirts fall under this former category. Leather is an organic material. It’s not a synthetic or otherwise man-made material. Rather, leather is a natural and organic material consisting of animal hide. Benefits of Wearing a Leather T-Shirt Considering that t-shirts are available in other materials, you might be wondering what makes leather t-shirts so special. Leather t-shirts are soft. They are softer than nearly all other shirts. They don’t have a scratchy or rough texture. On the contrary, leather t-shirts have a super-soft, almost...
by Leather | Leather Jackets
Leather jackets are available in countless styles. In addition to modern styles, you can find them in vintage styles. Known as vintage leather jackets, they feature a timeless appearance. Vintage leather jackets consist of styles that have been around for several decades. The MA-1, for instance, is a vintage leather jacket. It was originally developed for Air Force pilots and crewmen in the 1950s. Whether you’re looking for an MA-1 or any other style, though, there are several things you should and shouldn’t do when choosing a vintage leather jacket. Do Opt for a Light Color You can find vintage leather jackets in dozens of different colors. But when compared to dark colors, light colors typically offer a more timeless appearance. When leather jackets age, they’ll become lighter. It’s a defining characteristic of a patina, which refers to the overall appearance of aged leather. Light brown, beige, tan and shades thereof are all excellent color choices for a vintage leather jacket. Don’t Settle for Faux Leather While you can probably save a couple of bucks by choosing a vintage leather jacket made of faux leather, this isn’t recommended. Faux leather is fake leather. It may look like real leather, but it’s not made of an animal hide, nor is it tanned and processed in the same way that real leather is. Faux leather is actually a synthetic material. Faux leather has the following characteristics that may it a poor choice when compared to real leather: Smoother, more artificial textureChemical-like odorMakes a “crunching” noise when pressed Do Look for an Antique Zipper Before buying a vintage leather jacket, inspect the...
by Leather | Leather Jackets
When researching some of the different types of leather jackets, you may come across suede. They are available in many of the same styles as traditional leather jackets, including bomber, biker and blazer. Suede leather jackets, however, feature a napped surface, whereas traditional leather jackets have a smooth surface. Below are some of the most common questions and answers about suede leather jackets. Are They Made of Real Leather? Suede leather jackets are, in fact, made of real leather. Some of them are made of cowhide, whereas others are made of sheepskin. Regardless, suede leather jackets are made of real leather. They consist of cowhide or sheepskin that’s tanned, processed and then used in the construction of a suede leather jacket. Only faux or artificial leather jackets aren’t made of real leather. Jackets labeled as “faux” or “artificial” leather are made of a synthetic material. By choosing a suede leather jacket, you can rest assured knowing that it’s made of real leather and not a synthetic material. How Do They Compare to Traditional Leather Jackets? While suede leather jackets and traditional leather jackets are both made of real leather, they aren’t necessarily the same. Suede leather is characterized by a napped surface. In other words, it has a fuzzy texture. Traditional leather jackets don’t have a smooth surface. Only suede leather jackets have a fuzzy texture. They have a napped surface, resulting in a fuzzy texture, which is essentially what distinguishes suede leather jackets from traditional leather jackets. Is Suede Leather the Same as Split Leather? Some people assume that suede leather is the same as split leather. Split...
by Leather | Leather Dresses
A leather dress is a versatile garment that’s perfect for the spring and summer months. With its leather construction, you can rest assured knowing that it will last a long time. All leather garments are long-lasting, and leather dresses are no exception. More importantly, perhaps, leather dresses look amazing. But if you’re going to buy a leather dress, you’ll need to choose the right type. #1) Look for Real Leather There’s no substitution for real leather. Dresses made of real leather are superior to those made of faux leather. They are typically softer, suppler and offer a more genuine leather appearance. Faux leather dresses, of course, aren’t made of real leather. As their name suggests, they are made of fake leather. Faux leather is synthetic leather. It may look like real leather from afar, but it lacks the attractive qualities of real leather. If you’re going to buy a leather dress, take a moment to ensure it’s made of real leather. #2) Consider the Length You should consider the length when shopping for a leather dress. The length of a leather dress may vary. Some of them are short, whereas others are long. Short leather dresses are typically classified as mini. Long leather dresses, on the other hand, are classified as maxi. There are also medium-length leather dresses, which are classified as midi. A long leather dress will cover more of your legs. As a result, you may want to stick with a maxi leather dress if you’re planning to wear it during the cooler months of the year. But for the warmer months of the year, a mini...
by Leather | Leather Jackets
Leather jackets are available in different materials. As their name suggests, they are made of leather. Leather, however, is simply animal skin that’s been tanned and processed. There are different types of leather, including cowhide, goatskin and sheepskin. Cowhide is the most common type of leather used in the construction of jackets. Statistics show that cowhide leather accounts for about 65% of all leather products. But if you’re looking to buy a leather jacket, you may want to go with sheepskin. Sheepskin leather jackets offer several advantages that make them an attractive choice. #1) Lightweight While they have a similar appearance, cowhide and sheepskin leather jackets aren’t the same. Sheepskin leather jackets typically weigh less than cowhide leather jackets. Sheepskin leather is lighter than cowhide leather. As a result, jackets made of sheepskin leather weigh less. With their lightweight properties, sheepskin leather jackets offer excellent mobility. They weigh you down, nor will they restrict your ability to move. You can wear a sheepskin leather while jogging, running or performing other physical activities. #2) Soft We can’t talk about the benefits of choosing a sheepskin leather jacket without mentioning its soft texture. Al leather jackets are soft. Assuming a jacket is made of real leather — as opposed to faux leather — it will likely feel soft. Some types of leather, though, are softer than others. Sheepskin ranks as one of the softest types of leather on the market. It has a small, narrow grain that manifests in the form of a super-soft texture. The soft texture of sheepskin leather jackets makes them gentle on your skin. You don’t have...
by Leather | Leather Skirts
Leather skirts offer the perfect blend of comfort and style. They are made of the same real leather as jackets and other garments, resulting in a super-soft texture. At the same time, leather skirts are available in a wide range of modern and traditional styles. Regardless of your preferred style, you can probably find a leather skirt that features it. If you’re planning to wear a leather skirt during the spring or summer months, though, you’ll need to choose the right type. Leather offers a higher level of thermal insulation than other materials. When compared to cotton, linen and even wool, for instance, leather is typically warmer. You can still wear a leather skirt when it’s hot outside, but you’ll need to choose the right type. Otherwise, you may discover that it’s not particularly comfortable. Avoid Full-Length Styles When shopping for a leather skirt to wear during the spring or summer months, you should typically avoid full-length styles. Full-length leather skirts are those that extend all the way to your calves or ankles when worn. They are also known as maxi-length leather skirts. While they are perfectly fine for the cooler months of the year, you should avoid full-length leather skirts such as these during the warmer months of the year. Instead of a full-length style, stick with a partial-length leather skirt. Partial length styles include mini and midi. Mini leather skirts are the shortest. When worn, they’ll typically extend to the thighs. Midi leather skirts are slightly longer. Most midi leather skirts will extend to about the knees when worn. Midi leather skirts are longer than mini leather...
