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Understanding and Using Kangaroo Leather

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:18:00 GMT

Among your collection of leather goods, have you considered adding items made from kangaroo leather to the mix? Well known for being one of the strongest leathers, kangaroo leather is an ideal material for a range of products from fashionable dress shoes to performance and tactical gear. Not only is kangaroo leather versatile, it’s also a sustainable and ethical choice, offering you and your customers peace of mind. Understanding what makes kangaroo leather special should help you understand whether it is a good fit for your project.

What is Kangaroo Leather?

As the name suggests, kangaroo leather, sometimes referred to as k-leather, is a type of leather made from the hide of kangaroos, native to Australia. K-leather is known for its strength, durability and flexibility, making it a popular choice for various products across industries, such as shoes, boots, gloves and other leather goods. Historically, has been a top choice for high performance athletic footwear like cleats, but it also has broader product application on sneakers, boots, wallets, sheaths, holsters, grips, linings, and other small leather goods.

Leather making is nothing new (it’s an art that’s been around for more than 7,000 years), but the materials used for leather making vary greatly. In regards to kangaroo leather, Indigenous Australians have a long history of using kangaroo hides for various purposes, such as cloaks, loincloths, and bags. Kangaroo sinew was used for sewing and binding when creating these goods.

It comes as no surprise that this eventually transitioned into the usage of kangaroo leather for commercial purposes. Initially, kangaroo leather was primarily used for utilitarian purposes, such as making whips, harnesses and saddles due to its strength and durability. For these same reasons, kangaroo leather gained popularity within the sporting goods industry, particularly for the manufacturing of cleats and other athletic equipment.

In fact, kangaroo leather is most famous for being the pound-for-pound strongest leather available at any given thickness. Due to its highly organized skin fibers supported by a secondary mesh layer, low angle of weave, low fat content and thin grain layer, kangaroo leather can be made thin and supple without tearing.

However, just like other leather products, concerns over kangaroo populations led to the implementation of strict regulations and harvesting quotas to ensure sustainability and ethical treatment. Throughout Australia, kangaroos are ethically harvested by licensed hunters in accordance with the National Code of Practice, which is informed by current scientific understanding of kangaroo behavior and ecology, ensuring humane treatment throughout the process. This policy requires hunters to undergo regular testing every five years to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards.

From a sustainability standpoint, kangaroos are abundant in Australia (even, overly abundant in some areas). As a result, the kangaroos harvest is a method of population control, protecting the ecosystems and human interests where the kangaroos are overrun. Among the regulations of kangaroo harvesting, only four are allowed to be hunted since they have the largest populations: red kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, western grey kangaroos, and wallaroos.

Properties and Characteristics of Kangaroo Leather

As mentioned, kangaroo leather’s main claim to fame is that it is one of the strongest leathers at any given thickness, meaning it can remain very durable while feeling soft and supple. Typically, kangaroo leather is somewhat triangular in shape with the approximate following dimensions:

Three feet long on all three sides of the triangle shape
Ranges from 3-9 sq ft per hide, averaging 5-6 sq ft each
Ranges from 0.6-1.4 mm thickness. However, the kangaroo that PanAm Leathers stocks is mostly 0.7-0.9 mm thick.

Kangaroos are harvested from the wild versus farmed, so the quality ranges substantially. Since kangaroo leather is primarily used for footwear, PanAm Leathers assesses the quality of kangaroo hides based on the number of total boot vamp or shoe upper sets that each hide yields:

Grade 1: At least three full sets and no defects on a center triangle measuring 3.5 feet long on all sides
Grade 2: At least three full sets
Grade 3: At least two full sets
Grade 4: At least one full set
Grade 5: At least ½ set

There are very few hides with holes in any grade. Common defects include scratches, scars and scrapes. The vast majority of kangaroo hides are grades 3-4 with some grade 5. There is very little grade 1 and 2 available. Since kangaroo hides rarely have holes, almost any grade can be used for products that don’t require a flawless surface or perhaps for an intentional look of wear and tear.

Applications and Uses

Kangaroo leather's unique properties contribute to the overall performance and durability. As such, you’ll be able to find kangaroo leather across a wide range of industries and products. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways kangaroo leather is used.

Footwear

Due to its strong and flexible nature, you’ll often find kangaroo leather used to make footwear. From cleats to dress shoes and cowboy boots, kangaroo leather is a versatile material that can be implemented in all kinds of shoe styles. It's one of the strongest lightweight leathers available, making it ideal for footwear that needs to endure high levels of wear and tear.

It’s common to use high-grade kangaroo leather for the exterior of shoes, due to the aesthetic appearance and durability. On the other hand, the lower grades won’t go to waste as these are frequently used for interiors.

Fashion and Accessories

As we keep mentioning, K-leather is very soft and strong, which is a special combination. This makes it ideal for products that get daily use, like wallets, watchbands, handbags and even garments like jackets and pants. The better grades are typically used for the exteriors of these products while the lower grades can be used for linings and trim.

Performance Gear

Kangaroo leather is highly valued for performance gear across various industries due to its unique combination of strength, flexibility, and durability. Among its long list of applications, k-leather is commonly used for the upper construction of cleats. Not only is this material lightweight and breathable, but it provides players with excellent agility while being tough enough for a snug fit during high-intensity movement.

Beyond athletic footwear, you’ll find grade 3 or 4 kangaroo leather in various sports equipment, such as boxing and baseball gloves. Once again, the flexibility of this leather means there’s plenty of room for dexterity and movement.

On a similar note, kangaroo leather is used for military, tactical, and hunting gear for these same reasons. Hunting boots and gloves can be created using kangaroo leather, which offers great traction and support while providing a comfortable grip. Further, kangaroo leather is used for sheaths and bow grips, as well as falconry gloves and gauntlets. Additionally, kangaroo leather holsters and belts or pouches provide secure firearm retention and long-lasting performance.

Crafting Tips

Though kangaroo leather is very durable, it’s still a thin material, meaning it requires careful handling when creating leather goods. For this reason, when working with k-leather, craftsmen often rely on sharp, fine-edged tools designed for precision work, including rotary cutters, sharp scissors, thin needles, and strong, fine threads for careful stitching.

It’s important to note that kangaroo leather, like most leathers, is susceptible to damage from moisture, sunlight and heat, so it needs to be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight when not in use. Avoid exposing it to water or harsh chemicals, as this can cause discoloration or damage to the leather.

If you’re interested in using kangaroo leather for performance gear, dress shoes, or small leather goods, then you’ll find everything you need at PanAm Leathers. Interested in learning more about which type of exotic leather is right for your next project? Reach out to our team today and we’ll be happy to discuss all things kangaroo leather with you!

Sustainability and Ethics For Kangaroo Leather

PanAm Leathers — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:43:00 GMT

Kangaroo leather is popular, known for its durability, strength and versatility. With a wide variety of uses from footwear to sports and tactical gear to fashion and accessories, kangaroo leather is a popular choice in the exotic leathers market. And, like many exotic leathers, kangaroo leather raises concerns over wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

Sustainable practices, including regulated harvesting and transparent supply chains, are essential to mitigating the environmental impacts and ensuring the welfare of kangaroo populations. They are also a core principle of PanAm Leathers. We pride ourselves on ensuring our products and sourcing adhere to the strict guidelines set forth by the governments, non-government ethics organizations, the industry and our own moral code.

Understanding the protocols put into place by the industry as well as governments and NGO conservation and ethics groups is essential for responsible and ethical consumption and use of kangaroo leather.

Sustainability of Kangaroo Leather Production

One of the first questions one must ask of any species considered for the exotic leather trade is the impact harvesting might have on populations and any potential impacts. This is, perhaps, one of the aspects that makes kangaroo leather so viable.

Kangaroos are adept breeders who have also benefited from pastoral development, artificial watering holes, rainy conditions and a lack of natural predators. In fact, much like deer overpopulation in several states in the U.S., the resulting overabundance of kangaroos leads to significant problems including overgrazing, which threatens food and shelter sources for themselves and other animals that share their ecosystem. This can cause mass starvation. So, even if there was no trade for meat or hides, the animals would still need to be culled.

Throughout Australia, kangaroos are sustainably sourced and humanely harvested by licensed hunters according to the National Code of Practice, which outlines the most humane way to harvest kangaroos based on the latest scientific research into kangaroo behavior and ecology.

To start, hunters must pass a test every five years to make sure they can meet the animal welfare requirements. Further, kangaroo populations are monitored by state officials who conduct surveys by aircraft in order to set annual quotas, typically around 10-20% of the population. As of 2023, there were at least 30 million kangaroos roaming in the six territories from which they can be commercially harvested to be used for kangaroo leather and meat, which are exported to approximately 70 countries.

In short, the existing kangaroo population, monitored carefully by authorities, is served by the humane harvest of animals which would otherwise result in devastating impacts on the health of their communities, the land upon which they feed, and the other animals which might be impacted by excessive feeding from large kangaroo populations.

Because of the benefits of a harvest, and significant government oversight into the process, Australia and the exotic leather industry can ensure the humane harvest of kangaroo leather while sustaining a healthy kangaroo population.

Ethics For The Kangaroo Leather Trade

Ensuring a healthy and robust kangaroo population is essential, especially to Australians for whom kangaroos are part of their national identity and the Aboriginal communities for whom they hold cultural and symbolic meaning. However, kangaroo leather is about more than asking “Can the kangaroo population sustain a harvest?”

Ethics in the kangaroo leather trade is a multifaceted issue that requires careful consideration of environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and cultural respect. Kangaroo leather is prized for its durability, flexibility, and unique grain, making it a desirable material for various products, from fashion accessories to footwear. However, the ethical implications surrounding its production warrant close examination.

As noted above, one of the primary concerns in the kangaroo leather trade is the welfare of the kangaroos themselves. Regulations and guidelines exist to govern the kangaroo culling process, aiming to minimize suffering and ensure harvesting is conducted in a legal and ethical manner. Ethical considerations include the use of skilled marksmen to minimize suffering, strict quotas to prevent over-harvesting, and adherence to humane slaughter practices.

Environmental sustainability is another critical aspect of the kangaroo leather trade's ethics. Kangaroo populations can fluctuate due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human interference. Sustainable harvesting practices must take into account the ecological impact of kangaroo populations on their habitats and ecosystems. As mentioned, this involves government monitoring of population dynamics, setting appropriate quotas based on scientific research, and implementing measures to mitigate any negative effects on biodiversity.

Cultural sensitivity is also essential when discussing the ethics of the kangaroo leather trade. Kangaroos hold significant cultural and symbolic value for Indigenous Australian communities, who have a deep connection to the land and its wildlife. Respect for Indigenous perspectives and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders are crucial for ethical decision-making in the kangaroo leather industry.

This includes acknowledging Indigenous rights to land and resources, consulting with Indigenous communities on management strategies, and supporting initiatives that promote Indigenous participation and benefit-sharing. In fact, the government of South Australia makes special note of this ethical consideration on its kangaroo guidelines page.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment approves state kangaroo management plans and regulates the export activities of the kangaroo industry under the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982.

Import And Export Information for Kangaroo Leather

The demand for kangaroo leather comes from countries across the world, given its versatility and durability. The primary authority overseeing the kangaroo leather trade is the Australian government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, particularly through its Wildlife Trade Regulation division. This department is responsible for managing the sustainable use of wildlife resources, including kangaroos, and ensuring that harvesting and trade activities are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.

Additionally, the Australian government works with non governmental organizations who provide ethical insight and oversight into trade involving wildlife, including exotic leathers. More specifically, international bodies such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulate the trade of kangaroo products, including leather, on the global scale. CITES regulates the international trade of endangered species to ensure their survival in the wild.

Further, it is the role of the leather companies working with exotic leathers to ensure a sustainable supply chain while maintaining wild animal populations and habitats. This is a core PanAm Leathers value and one we hold ourselves and our partners to when it comes to sourcing all of our leather products, including kangaroo leather.

If you’re interested in exploring our kangaroo leathers, or our other exotic leathers, please reach out to our team. We’d love to get you connected with the right kangaroo leather for your next project!

The Guide to Beaver Tail Skins

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:46:00 GMT

Pan American Leathers remains dedicated to providing a wide variety of exotic skins to suit the needs of high-fashion designers of every stripe. This is why the Pan Am team is proud to announce that we’re adding a new kind of exotic leather to our lineup: beaver tail skins!

Here are a few facts about beaver tail skin that might interest you:

Introduction to Beaver Tail Skins

The beaver tails used by Pan American Leathers come from a species of beaver known by the scientific name Castor Canadensis, which are native to North America. There is also a variety of beaver native to the Eurasian continent known as Castor fiber.

Beavers are considered a nuisance species in many parts of the United States because of their tendency to build dams. These dams can cause many negative environmental and economic impacts related to the damage they cause to downstream farmers. Additionally, beavers can introduce harmful germs/bacteria into fresh water and cause damage to tree farms when they use the trees to grind their teeth down.

Reducing the beaver population improves water flow and quality, increases crop yields, reduces the tax burden on citizens, and generates economic value for poor, rural communities. However, beavers are harvested only once a year, so as to manage the issues above while conserving the species.

All of Pan American Leather’s beaver tail skins come from beavers that are hunted, tanned, colored, and finished in the U.S.

Beaver tails are rich in historical value and are a key part of Americana culture. As noted by EH.net, it was “in the late sixteenth century, when the wearing of beaver hats became fashionable, that firms were established who dealt exclusively in furs.” This trade persisted throughout much of the period before, during, and after the American Revolution.

Beaver tails have a distinctive texture and appearance that can make them immediately identifiable. They’re also incredibly durable, being naturally scratch and water-resistant. The water resistance is largely owed to the fact that beavers are semi-aquatic animals that evolved to spend a great deal of time in the water.

4 Reasons to Use Beaver Tail Skins for Your Exotic Leather Project

Beaver tails might seem like an odd choice for an exotic leather project at first glance. However, there are reasons why they were a major driving force for trade in the early years of American colonization by various European countries. Four major reasons to use beaver tail skins include:

Toughness

Beaver tails are naturally thick and sturdy to survive strong river currents and support the beaver’s weight when it stands upright. These tails are incredibly thick and sturdy compared to most other exotic leathers. These hides are also highly scratch-resistant, able to take a fair amount of abuse without marring the hide.

Water Resistance

As a semi-aquatic creature, the hide of a beaver naturally resists absorbing water. This allows the hide to survive exposure to water without getting damaged or becoming discolored. Because of this water resistance, products made from the hide are less likely to get damaged from everyday use than more water-permeable hides would be.

Strength

Compared to many other types of leather, beaver tails have a relatively high tensile strength. This allows a beaver tail product to resist tearing from being exposed to stresses such as holding a heavy load or being pulled on. High-tensile strength materials can be a bit tougher to work with because of their strength, but that also makes them great for hard-use applications.

Appearance

A beaver tail has an intricately textured surface that might surprise some who haven’t seen tanned skin before. Upon close examination, the natural grain pattern of a beaver tail is most comparable to that of a lizard or ostrich leg skin’s grain pattern. The skin has many deep grooves that form tiny, matrix-like patterns across its surface.

Because the skin itself is uniform in color thanks to PanAm's sophisticated tanning procedures (not so humble brag), it is also easy for you to get consistent dye colors. So, if you need a custom color for your exotic leather project, beaver tails might be a good option.

Top 4 Uses for Beaver Tail Skins

So, what are some examples of ways that beaver tails can be used? How have other designers put these skins to use in their own projects? Here are four examples of ways that beaver tail skins are frequently used:

Watch Bands

The small, tight grain pattern of a tanned beaver tail makes for a beautiful appearance on small items such as watch bands. Where many other skins have patterns that are too large to really notice on something as small as a watch band, the grooves in the surface of beaver tails are intricate enough to be noticed even on men's and women’s watch bands.

When ordering beaver tails for use in making watch bands, it’s generally a good idea to order smaller skins whenever possible. Watch bands don’t require a lot of material, so you can still get about 3-4 bands from a small tail with ease.

Phone Cases

Many smartphone users love to splurge on attractive cases for their mobile devices. The thickness, scratch-resistance, and waterproof qualities of beaver skin make beaver tails an ideal material for making protective (and attractive) phone cases.

The size of the skins you order may vary based on the type of phone you’re making the case for. Smaller smartphones—where you’re only making an inlaid case—may only need smaller skins. However, larger phones may require bigger tails. You also may need a mid- to large-sized skin if you’re making a wrap case that will go around the edges of the phone.

The only drawback to using beaver tail skin for phone cases is that the hides are fairly thick, which can make it difficult to work with when wrapping edges. In these cases, it may be necessary to split down the hide to make it easier to manipulate.

Footwear

Beaver tails can be a good alternative to alligator leather for exotic leather footwear. The scratch and water resistance properties of beaver tails make for excellent footwear, such as cowboy boots. Additionally, the small, intricate groove pattern can make for a striking and unique piece of footwear that is very distinct from both cow- and snake-based leathers.

When ordering beaver tails for footwear, it’s better to go with larger tails. Even then, if you aren't making whole shoes/boots from beaver tails, it is likely that you’ll need to use two or more tails to fill some of your panels.

Alternatively, you can use beaver tails just to make the counters or trim on a shoe to create a textured look that contrasts with the rest of the shoe’s appearance.

Wallets

Beaver tails are often used for making high-quality men’s wallets because they’re attractive enough to draw attention, but tough enough to stand up to everyday use.

The big challenge in making men’s wallets with beaver tails, however, is finding the right size for your needs. To create one “full” large men’s wallet from a single hide, you’ll need to order a large or XL-sized tail. Alternatively, you could use two small or medium sized skins and join them down the center of a bi-fold wallet.

These are just a few of the potential uses for beaver tail skins. Need a scratch and water-resistant hide for your next exotic leather project? Contact the experts at Pan American Leathers! We look forward to helping you find the right exotic leather to meet your project’s needs.

Where To Buy Exotic Leather

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:25:00 GMT

So, you’ve decided that you want to work with exotic leather. Maybe it’s because you want something tougher than standard cowhide—like stingray skin—that can stand up to hard-wearing applications like motorcycle upholstery. Maybe you want something with a refined and easily identifiable texture like alligator or caiman crocodile skin. Perhaps you want a beautiful and striking pattern like what python skin can provide.

Whatever the reason, if you’re interested in exotic leather, it’s important to know where you can go to find it. While PanAm Leathers is one place to get exotic leathers like snake, ostrich, and caimain skin, we’re aware that we aren’t the only option.

When it comes to exotic leather, there are three primary sources you can get it from: Distributors, tanneries, and manufacturers.

Exotic Leather Distributors

Distributors are exactly what they sound like based on the name: they buy skins from tanneries, warehouse them and re-distribute them to other buyers.

The Advantage of Buying from Exotic Leather Distributors

The key advantage of working with a distributor is that they tend to have a large stock of certain exotic leathers available for immediate purchase at any given time. Because they source their leather from a variety of tanneries and other suppliers, distributors often have plenty of stock available for the types and colors of exotic skin that they specialize in.

Disadvantages of Buying from Distributors

While buying from distributors has the advantage of immediacy—the skins they have in stock are available for shipping right away with little to no delay—they also have a few key disadvantages.

Higher Costs. The distributor is a “middleman” in the exotic leather supply chain. They purchase their skins from tanneries and other sources to warehouse them for when their own clients need them. This means that they pay the tannery’s price, plus the cost of storing the exotic skins they sell, marketing for their services, sales/customer service agents, and other additional overhead. To turn a profit, distributors need to charge a premium above and beyond what they paid the tannery. So, their skin often costs more per inch than it would from a tannery.
Limited Selection. Distributors have limited space to carry exotic leather in proper storage conditions. To ensure that they can sell the skins they have, they often need to focus on a few specific types and finishes of exotic leather—typically the ones most in demand or that their distribution house is known for. For example, a distributor known for having blue, black, and gray stingray skins in a standard finish may not have other, less popular colors available—like silver, purple, teal, etc. Even if you place a special order, the distributor may not be able to get the skin in stock for a while—negating the benefit of speed that is their main draw.

So, if you need an exotic hide fast, don’t mind a limited selection of colors, and are willing to pay a premium for it, ordering from a distributor might not be a bad fit for your needs.

Exotic Leather Tanneries

A tannery is a location that takes raw animal hide and processes it to turn it into ready-to-use leather for a variety of applications. As demand for exotic leather in the fashion industry is high, many tanneries are either in tight business relationships with (or are outright owned) by major fashion houses.

This can make finding a tannery to work with a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, Pan American Leathers is one of the few independent tanneries in the world—meaning we aren’t owned by a fashion house and are free to work with anyone without the issue of conflicts of interest.

Benefits of Buying Exotic Leather from a Tannery

So, why would you want to work with an independent tannery rather than a distributor? Some of the benefits of working with a tannery directly include:

Lower Costs. When you work with a tannery, you’re working as closely with the source of your exotic leather as is possible. This means not having to pay a series of middlemen upcharges for the finished hides you need—helping to minimize the cost of acquiring exotic leather. When you place bulk orders for a large amount of skin with the same finish and color, you may even get a bulk processing discount since the tannery can prep more skin with the same process. Of course, this assumes that the tannery is independent. A tannery that is associated with a major fashion house may charge more for the privilege since they have a favored client.
Customization of Your Exotic Skin Order. One of the biggest reasons to work directly with a tannery is to have the greatest possible freedom of choice for colors and finishes. If you’re looking for a rarely-used, niche color or finish, your chances of getting it from a tannery are much higher than they are at a distributor. Tanneries can make your skin to order—so if you need an unusually-colored caiman crocodile or stingray leather hide to mesh with your overall collection or specific creative vision, you can get it. While there are still limitations, you’ll have far more options working with a tannery than a distributor.

Disadvantages of Working with an Exotic Leather Tannery

So, why wouldn’t you want to work with a tannery if they’re more affordable and offer a better selection of colors and finishes than a distributor?

Potentially Having to Wait for Exotic Leather. If you’re ordering a custom skin, odds are that it will take a long time for the tannery to fulfill your order. This is because processing a custom exotic leather finish can take a long time. So, if the tannery doesn’t have the specific color and finish you want on hand, they’ll have to make it themselves and that can take days or even weeks depending on the type of exotic hide being processed and the finish you want. If you’re working with a tannery located outside of the USA, this can be exacerbated by long international shipping delays. Thankfully, here at PanAm Leathers, we tan and finish our products within the U.S.—eliminating customs and import delays.
Finding a Tannery Can Be Difficult. Finding a tannery that handles the specific type of exotic leather you want to purchase can be tough. This is especially true if you’re looking for a U.S.-based tannery for the quicker shipping and added security of a U.S. regulation-compliant leather source. As reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “There are approximately 111 leather tanning facilities in the United States.” Not all tanneries can process all kinds of hides and many of these tanneries are associated with one of the major fashion houses.

If you’re looking for the best price on your exotic leather, need hard-to-find finishes or colors, and don’t mind waiting for the tannery to process the skins for your custom order, then working with a tannery may be your best choice.

Buying Exotic Leather from a Manufacturer

Are you a designer working with a manufacturer to turn your high-fashion concepts into real-world products? If so, you might be able to have them order the exotic leather your designs need for you.

The Advantage of Ordering Through Your Manufacturer

Odds are that, if you’re working with an experienced manufacturer who has worked on exotic leather products like alligator skin handbags, ostrich skin boots, or caiman skin shoes in the past, they already have a ready source of exotic leather they can lean on to get the skins needed to complete your product.

They may also know exactly what sizes and grades of exotic leather would be best for filling the panels of your leather project—which could help them make a more efficient leather order. This helps remove some of the guesswork and stress from the exotic leather ordering process.

The Disadvantage of Ordering Through a Manufacturer

As with ordering exotic leather from a distributor, when you order through your manufacturer, you’re ordering through a middleman (who may, in turn, be ordering through a distributor). This adds another layer of cost to the process that can increase expenses for your exotic hide projects.

Also, when ordering a finished product from a manufacturer, it’s important to verify that they only order the leather they need for the project. There’s a risk that some manufacturers might overbuy and stick you with the bill for the excess leather. Why might they order too much? It gives them wriggle room on the cutting of leather for panels in case of mistakes. Some extra can be useful, but too much is a waste of your money.

With that said, we respect our competitors very much. They are good at what they do and have been a positive force in our industry for a long time. We simply want YOU to know why we believe we can serve you better.

If you’re interested in any of the benefits of working with Pan American Leathers, please feel free to contact us online or call at 978-741-4150.

Crocodile & Alligator Leather Care Tips for Your Exotic Skin Products

mark@panamleathers.com (Mark Mendal) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:57:00 GMT

Exotic leather is an extremely valuable and attractive material for high-end fashion products. These products are often quite unique and impossible to replace if they get damaged. So, it’s important to take really good care of your alligator and crocodile skin handbags, shoes, and other products.

With this in mind, here are some exotic leather care tips for alligator and crocodile skin that you can follow to help maximize the useful life (and beauty) of your exotic goods.

Caring for Alligator Leather

American alligator skin is a rare and highly precious material. Given the value and rarity of alligator skin leather goods, it’s important to take excellent care of them to keep them looking like new for as long as possible.

Cleaning Alligator Leather

Cleaning alligator leather products can be tricky, as excessive moisture or strong chemicals can strip away the finish of a hide and ruin its appearance.

When cleaning alligator leather, be sure to avoid using water and untested chemical compounds on the hide. If the leather has excess moisture on it, be sure to gently rub the affected area with a soft, dry towel or cloth to soak up the water. Afterwards, hang-dry the item in a well-ventilated, cool area to finish.

During the drying process, be sure to keep the alligator leather well away from any heat sources, including direct sunlight. Heat stress can damage the finish and discolor the hide.

Once the leather is dry, consider applying a specially-formulated alligator leather conditioner to protect the finish from dust, dirt, and further exposure to moisture. The retailer selling the leather should be able to tell you where you can order the right conditioner for your alligator hide.

When first applying a new conditioner to any exotic leather product, be sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the product first and let it sit for an hour. Spots such as the back of a boot’s tongue are ideal for this testing. This should let you see if the conditioner will alter the look of your alligator leather at all.

To remove dirt and dust, carefully wipe the alligator hide clean with a dry cloth. For finer particulates, dabbing the affected area with a damp cloth can be effective, but you’ll want to dry and retreat the hide afterwards to avoid damaging the finish.

Storing Alligator Leather

Alligator leather items should be stored in a cool, dry environment. Any storage space should be temperature-regulated to prevent prolonged exposure to any extreme conditions.

Although alligator leather is very flexible, it’s important to store any leather goods in a way that prevents severe creasing. For example, alligator leather boots should be stored with boot shapers to help keep the shaft of the boot leg from collapsing during storage.

Alligator leather handbags should be filled with light paper stuffing when not in use to keep the bags from sagging and forming crease marks. If hanging alligator skin products, use hangers that have broad, rounded contact surfaces to maximize surface contact area and reduce stress on the hide rather than thin metal wires.

Caring for Crocodile Leather

Caring for crocodile leather is often very similar to caring for alligator leather. However, there are enough differences to warrant having a separate list of crocodile leather care tips. Please note that the following consists mostly of general advice and some leather finishes might require extra care.

Cleaning Crocodile Leather

To remove excess moisture, gently rub the affected area of the crocodile leather product with a soft, dry towel or cleaning cloth to soak up the majority of the excess moisture—similarly to what you would do with alligator leather. Once that is done, hang-dry the item to finish removing excess moisture. It is important to avoid using direct sunlight or any other direct heat source when drying the leather, as that may cause damage to the finish and result in discoloration or cracks.

After the leather is dry, apply leather conditioner formulated for your crocodile leather to help protect the finish and keep it looking new. When applying the crocodile leather conditioner, be sure to follow the application instructions on the conditioner’s packaging.

Leather conditioner for crocodile hide should be easy to find at any exotic leather goods retailer. However, if you are having difficulty finding the right crocodile leather conditioner for treating the specific finish of your crocodile skin, contacting the manufacturer can prove helpful for finding the right crocodile leather care products.

For removing dirt, dust, and other contaminants, the process from above remains largely the same, possibly minus the time spent drying the leather. First, remove the contaminant with a dry cloth. For fine particulates such as sand, using a slightly damp cloth to remove the dirt can make the initial cleaning process easier, but the leather will need to be dried and treated with conditioner afterward to reduce the risk of damage to the finish.

Whenever trying a new leather care product on a crocodile leather item (or any other exotic leather item), first test it on an inconspicuous part of the item first to see if it affects the finish adversely. For example, the inside sleeve or cuff of a jacket. This way, if the new product does cause some discoloration, it won’t be in a place where everyone can see it right away.

Storing Crocodile Leather

When not in use, crocodile leather items such as boots or shoes should be kept in a cool, dry environment. One example of an appropriate place to store crocodile leather boots would be in a shoe closet.

For larger crocodile leather pieces, such as jackets, avoid folding them tightly. Crocodile skin, particularly caiman skin, has calcium deposits in it that makes the skin more rigid. Folding the skin too tightly at points that were not meant to be folded can cause damage, resulting in unsightly cracks or crease marks.

Ideally, instead of trying to fold leather items and putting them in a small dresser drawer, they should be hung on a coat hanger. Crocodile leather belts should also be hung by their belt buckles to avoid causing cracks in the leather.

Tips for Transporting Your Exotic Leather Handbags (or Other Exotic Skin Products)

When wearing or transporting exotic leather handbags or other products, try to minimize their direct exposure to the sun as much as possible. Direct exposure to strong sunlight can cause the color of the hide to fade and create cracks in it.

Keeping exotic leather products in an opaque, airtight case during transit helps to not only prevent sun damage but damage from exposure to contaminants in the air, such as cigarette smoke or other chemical compounds. This helps to preserve the appearance of the hide. Any such case should be large enough to hold the handbag easily without crushing it.

Following these tips for cleaning, storing, and transporting your exotic leather products can add years to their useful life, preserving the appearance and value of your exotic leather investment. Have specific questions about caring for a specific type of exotic leather or have a crocodile skin bag with a unique finish? Contact PanAm Leathers to ask for advice on how to take care of it!

Finding the Perfect Material for Your Exotic Leather Shoes

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:15:00 GMT

Footwear is one of the most popular uses for exotic leather products—ranking up there with handbags in terms of popularity. However, what kind of skin should you use for your exotic leather shoe or boot project?

Two popular choices for creating exotic leather footwear are American alligator and caiman crocodile skin. Why are these two types of skin so well-suited for making exotic leather shoes? How should you go about choosing the best skin for your needs?

Read on to learn more about the benefits of these skins and to get some tips for using them in a shoe or boot project.

The Top 4 Reasons Why Caiman Skin Is a Great Choice for Exotic Leather Shoes

So, why is Caiman crocodile skin a good fit for making exotic leather shoes? Some of the biggest benefits of this specific type of exotic leather.

Caiman Skin Is a “Budget-Friendly” Exotic Leather

Caiman skin is the entry-level crocodilian leather and is a fraction of the cost of similarly-sized and graded Nile crocodile or American alligator skin, because of its boniness. Although caiman skin is at the bottom of the crocodile skin hierarchy, it's still high in quality and perfect for shoemaking.

Supplies of caiman are also plentiful compared to other high-end exotic leather selections like alligator skin and shell cordovan. This freedom in production translates into getting more usable leather, which gives you more bang for your buck.

Caiman Skin Is a Fashionable and Distinctive Leather

Shoes are often considered to be the signature of an ensemble. When it comes to making a shoe satisfy the rigors of high fashion, that signature needs to be striking.

With caiman skin, you have the choice of using either the belly or the hornback portion of the skin for each pair of shoes. The belly has flatter, smoother scales in the midsection. The hornback (as the name suggests) has the hard horn ridges that are on the back of the caiman skin to protect it. Either way, the ossifications create masculine patterns with vogue textures.

Caiman Skin Has High Durability

Caiman is pliable, smooth, and its bony plates are not only eye-catching, they also add an undeniable durability that makes it ideal for men's shoes. With proper care and conditioning, the threat of creasing and cracking are reduced significantly. The small scales of the caiman make it easier to work with.

An added plus for using caiman is the variety of finishes available in stock. This versatile leather comes in matte, suede, glazed, metallic and iridescent finishes.

Caiman Skin Can Be a Lucrative Material Choice

According to Statista, the “Textile & Other Footwear” market is worth roughly $140.4 billion in 2023—making it worth nearly a third of the overall global footwear market (valued at $398.4 billion).

Caiman skin gives a competitive edge by providing that expensive, high-end look without being as expensive as American alligator skin. This helps you get higher returns when using this lower-cost exotic leather.

As mentioned earlier, Caiman skin has a similar appearance to more expensive varieties of crocodile and alligator skin. This advantage gives you lower production cost while making unique and distinctive shoes that are comparable to skins that are two to five times the price. Creating exquisite shoes with less pricey production is a win-win for both you and your clients.

Choosing a Crocodile Skin for an Exotic Leather Shoe Project

Crocodile skin is one of the most exquisite leathers for crafting exotic leather shoes. If you want to make a statement with your shoe designs, crocodile flanks will give you stunning textures and scale patterns.

Here are some tips for working with exotic leathers for your shoe designs that can help you get the most from your crocodile flanks and highest consistency in texture matching so that your shoe designs will always be one step ahead of the competition:

Picking Your Crocodile Flanks

When you’re making shoes with these fine crocodile skins, it is important to choose the ideal flanks. For each pair of shoes, you will need 1.5+ square foot flanks, one right flank and one left flank. The advantage of using crocodile flanks to a full crocodile skin is that the flanks allow you to have uniformity of shape and size of scales with very little waste.

Knowing Your Crocodiles

Out of the 23 different species of crocodiles, three of the most sought-after skins are: Caiman skin, Nile crocodile skin and the American alligator skin. Here’s a quick breakdown of the benefits of each:

The Caiman 1) Stocked in 20-30 colors. 2) Least Expensive 3) Boniest so the most difficult to work with 4) Bred in Central America and South America. 5) Most flanks used for footwear come from large wild caiman skin, where the belly was too damaged to use. In this case, the tails and the flanks are merchandised separately.
The Nile Crocodile 1) Stocked in 10-20 colors. 2) Typically, more expensive than the caiman skin but less expensive than the American alligator skin. 3) Less bony and considerably easier to work with than the caiman skin.
The American Alligator 1) Stocked in 20-30 colors. 2) This is the most expensive of these three types of crocodiles. 3) Supple and luxurious texture. 4) Wider tails than the Nile crocodile so more usable for pairs of shoes. 5) Bred in U.S.A.

Where the flanks are cut from on the crocodile will determine texture. The hornback—the section along the back of the crocodile— provides bold/striking patterns. Meanwhile, flanks cut from the belly will provide softer, smoother textures.

While crocodile is less expensive than alligator, there are some trade-offs. The highly texturized flanks mean there are higher concentrations of calcium deposits. While these striking patterns give you some great options for shoe designs, you will need to dremel the skin to prevent your needles from breaking repeatedly. The biggest upside of designing exotic leather men's shoes with crocodile flanks is the uniqueness they create for your high-end shoes.

Once you've decided to use exotic crocodile skins, the flanks must be picked in pairs to ensure that your shoes match in texture.

Pro Tip for Maintaining Crocodile Leather Shoes: Conditioning

What makes crocodile skins beautiful is also what makes them need a good conditioner. Crocodile is a skin in every sense of the word. Conditioning the skin keeps it protected from the over-absorption of water, drying and cracking.

The conditioner’s purpose is to nurture the skin and keep it supple and shiny. Conditioners keep the skin's flexibility by sealing in needed natural oils and moisture, preserving that exotic glossy look.

It’s equally important to test the conditioner first. Putting a small amount of conditioner on a piece of scrap to see how it reacts will work nicely for this purpose.

Using Alligator Belly Skin for Exotic Leather Shoes

If you have more room in your budget, alligator skin is one of the top choices for creating striking, high-end leather shoes and boots that really stand out from more common cow/pig hide products.

Alligator skin is, hands down, one of the most luxurious and exclusive exotic leathers you can get for making men’s shoes. The high demand and short supply of alligator skin in general makes it difficult and expensive to acquire, but worth every penny if you really want to make the best shoe and have as little waste as you possibly can.

Here are a few tips for using alligator skin for men’s shoes that can help you make a truly top-notch product to outshine the competition:

Picking Your Alligator Skin

When you’re making men’s shoes, you’ll usually want to use grade 2 or 3 alligator skin that’s about 30 – 36 cm wide. This usually provides the most economical option when ordering alligator skin. Also, they’re often easier to get than the pristine, grade 1 skins.

One caveat of ordering grade 2 and 3 skins is that you’ll want to make sure that any marks in the hide are in places you can work around when making your panels for the shoes. This usually isn’t too difficult with skins this size.

Be sure to always order alligator skins in pairs when making shoes so you can use similar belly scales for both shoes—otherwise, you could end up having to use belly scales for one shoe, and tail skin for the other, creating an unattractive, mismatched appearance.

Consider Using Alligator Tails

Your alligator skin will have a tail. Considering how valuable alligator skin can be, it’s important not to let it go to waste.

Generally speaking, there are two ways to use the alligator tail when you’re using the belly for men’s shoes:

To Make a Second Pair of Shoes. You could use the extra skin from the tails of two alligator hides to make a second pair of shoes to offset the others. Naturally, these shoes will have a slightly different scale pattern since the pattern on the tails is different than the pattern on the bellies.
To Make Belts. If you are only making one pair or are making an odd number of pairs and you have tail left over, the long, narrow tail portion of an alligator hide can also make a very good high-fashion belt that will match the shoes perfectly.

Some designers do both, alternating between making shoes and making belts out of the tails so that there’s an equal number of belts and shoe pairs. For example, say you have 8 skins. You could make 8 pairs of shoes (4 belly pairs, 4 tail pairs) 4 pairs of shoes and 8 belts (4 belly pairs, and 8 tail belts), 6 pairs of shoes and 4 belts (4 belly pairs, 2 tail pairs, and 4 tails for belts) or any combination in between.

Matching Up Panels Between Skin Pairs

To get a consistent look in each pair of shoes you make, it’s important to mirror your panels from one skin to the next. If you use the top of the belly to make a shoe vamp for the left shoe, that same piece of skin should be used for the vamp of the right shoe.

This also means that when you’re pairing up skins for making shoes, you’ll want to make sure that any defects on the alligator skin are in similar locations so you can work around them in the same way for each shoe in the pair.

Consider Applying Alligator Leather Conditioner to the Finished Product

Alligator leather is well-known for its exceptional softness and flexibility—far more so than many other crocodilian species’ skins. However, like with crocodile leather, it still needs to be properly cared for.

Specialized exotic leather conditioners formulated for alligator skin can help you prevent crease marks and preserve the glossy exterior of the leather.

If you use alligator leather conditioner on your men’s shoes, be sure to test in on a small, innocuous part of the shoe first to see how it affects the appearance of the leather first. In some cases, the conditioner may alter the appearance of the leather in a way you might not expect. Leather scraps that you have on hand might make for a good way to test a new leather conditioner so you don’t risk marring the finish of leather you plan on using for a shoe.

Contact Pan American Leathers for an Appointment at Our Showroom

If you and your clientele insist on only the best luxury exotic leathers, we’ll be happy to show you varying sizes and grades of exotic skin at our New York showroom. Feel free to make an appointment with us.

How Is Exotic Leather Measured and Graded?

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:55:00 GMT

When you’re shopping for exotic leather, two of the most important things to keep in mind (regardless of the type of skin you’re ordering) are the size of the skin and its grade. If a skin is the wrong size or grade, it could have a significant impact on your acquisition costs and your ability to actually use the skin for your project.

Generally speaking, the larger the panels you need for your project, the larger and higher-grade the skin needs to be.

What Does “Grade” Mean for Exotic Leathers?

For exotic leathers, the “grade” is a general measurement of the skin’s overall quality. The better the grade, the fewer defects there are in the hide. For example, a “Grade 1” skin is virtually free of any defects in the hide—making these skins the most valuable (and thus, expensive) option available.

Some skins may have more grades than others, but the typical limit is Grade 4, which indicates a skin with a lot of flaws or defects. Grade 4 skins tend to be the least expensive option per centimeter of hide but aren’t suitable for projects that require large patches of unblemished hide.

One factor that can affect the availability of Grade 1 skins is where the leather is typically sourced from. Exotic leathers that are usually collected from farms tend to have higher-grade skins available more often. Meanwhile, skins that come from wild-caught sources more frequently have significant blemishes that lower their grade.

This is because farmed animals are protected from conflict and predation that would result in punctures, scars, and scratches that could damage their hide. Wild animals, on the other hand, are at the mercy of nature—not just potential extreme weather but also fights with other animals that could result in damage.

Grading Different Types of Exotic Leather

While most types of exotic leathers follow the same general rules for their grading (i.e., fewer blemishes means a higher grade), they may have some unique ways of reaching a specific grade result based on the shape of the skin and how it’s measured.

Here are some quick explanations of skin grading for different types of exotic leather:

Shark Skin Grades

Shark skin, like many other exotic leathers, is separated into four distinct grades based on how pristine the skin is. Grading is done on two different sections of the shark skin—the section above the largest fin hole in the center of the skin and the section below said hole.

The more scratches, scuffs, and scars the skin has, the lower its grade. Here are the four grades of shark skin:

Grade 1 shark skin. These skins are free of any significant defects in the center of the two main sections. Grade 1 is very rare because shark skin is collected from wild sources instead of farms.
Grade 2 shark skin. A grade 2 shark hide will have a small defect or cluster of defects in one half of one section of the skin. These defects can usually be worked around with ease.
Grade 3 shark skin. These shark leathers will have a small defect or defect cluster appearing on two halves of either main section of the shark skin.
Grade 4 shark skin. The shark hide has multiple defects in both sections of the hide—worse than grade 3 shark skin.

The majority of defects take the form of scars, scrapes, scratches, and holes.

Because these hides are taken from wild sharks that are hunted for their meat, grade 1 and 2 shark skin is comparatively rare. Grade 3 and 4 shark skin are much more common.

American Crocodile Skin Grades

The grade assessment for American crocodile leather is made based on the condition of the belly. There are four grades of American crocodile skin (ranked from best to worst):

Grade 1. These are the “pristine” or “flawless” skins that have no defects in the belly.
Grade 2. These skins might have a solitary defect or a small cluster of defects on the outer edge of the belly—these are usually easy to work around.
Grade 3. There may be a defect or a small cluster of defects in or near the center of the belly, which may be somewhat difficult to work around (depending on the application).
Grade 4. Here, there are defects present in more than a single quadrant of the belly.

Naturally, the worse the grade and the smaller the size, the less expensive the American crocodile skin will be. When shopping for exotic leather, it’s important to consider your application and how easy it will be to work around any defects in the hide.

American Alligator Skin Grades

American alligator skin is graded on the midsection only, including the belly and flank. The condition of the head and tail are not typically considered in the grading.

The grades for this exotic leather are defined as follows:

Grade 1: No defects in the belly.
Grade 2: One cluster of defects on the outer edge of belly or flank.
Grade 3: One cluster of defects in the center belly.
Grade 4: Clusters of defects in two different quadrants of the midsection.
Grade 5: Worse than grade 4.

Defects are most often scars, scratches, shading or scaling deformities. In some rare cases, defects may include holes and grain issues. Anything with holes or grain issues would be downgraded to a grade 4 at best. Skins that are grade 3 or better will not have holes or grain issues in the midsection.

You may notice that this skin, unlike the previous two entries, has five grade ranks instead of four. This helps to more finely establish the quality of the skin just by identifying the grade since it’s one of the most expensive types of exotic leather to acquire.

Python Skin Grades

Python skin is graded on the center ⅔ of the skin. So short-tailed python skins are graded on the center meter and diamond python skins are graded on the center two meters.

There may be small holes on the very outer edges of all skins where the toggling clips are clipped during the tanning process, but this does not affect the cutting area, so it is not factored into the grading. Grades are defined as follows:

Grade 1: No defects in the center. Ideal for handbags, garments, interiors, large footwear panels, belts and other large accessories.
Grade 2: Small and clustered defects in the center. Ideal for small footwear panels, electronics accessories, wallets and small leather goods.
Grade 3: Has either many small defects in the center or several large defects in the center. This grade of hide is best for small leather goods, jewelry or practicing crafting with python skin.

For python skins, defects typically include pinholes, scratches, scars and scaling deformations.

Measuring Different Exotic Leathers

When purchasing exotic leather of any kind, it’s important to know what size of leather you’re working with. However, not all types of skin are measured the same way. Different hides have different shapes, which impacts how the leather they produce is measured and what size and shape panels they’re best for.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how different hides are measured:

Measuring Shark Skin

Typically, a shark skin is measured in square feet by a machine. They range from 3 to 7 square feet, with a 4 square foot average total. Of course, these skins aren’t perfect squares. They are an imperfect diamond shape with a hole in the center and towards the back where the fins were.

Like many other exotic leather products, shark skin tapers from one end to the other. When measuring shark skin, they tend to be around 30 inches long and 20 inches wide at their widest point.

Measuring American Crocodile Skin

American crocodiles are one of the larger crocodilian species (though not the biggest), with adults hitting an average length ranging between 3.8 and 4.5 meters. However, when measuring an American crocodile skin, it’s not the length of the hide that’s typically measured, but the width of the belly at its widest point.

When measured by belly width, American crocodile skins can vary from 35 cm wide to 75 cm wide—but, the majority of available skins will be around the 50-69 cm range. Depending on the overall size of the American crocodile in question, the hide may have between 25 and 34 rows of belly scales, with 14-16 scales per row.

As a rule, wider American crocodile skins also tend to be longer relative to other crocodile species, meaning they’ll have more belly scale rows for you to work with.

Measuring American Alligator Skin

Like American crocodile skins, alligator skins are measured primarily by the widest point of the belly (not including any hard bones in the hide). Wild skins are available in 30-100 cm, with an average of 50 cm. Farm skins run mostly 20-44 cm, average 30 cm.

Here’s a table showcasing some average measurements based on common alligator belly size ranges:

Size Range	20/24 cm	25/29 cm	30/34 cm	35/39 cm	40/44 cm	45/49 cm	50/54 cm	55/59 cm	60-64 cm
Head Width	15	20	25	25	27	32	29	29	31
Head Length	15	20	30	25	30	35	34	34	39
Belly Width	22	27	32	37	42	47	52	57	62
Belly Length	19	30	35	35	36	36	39	42	45
Top of Tail Width	17	20	24	27	29	33	37	41	44
Tail Length	43	50	65	70	85	90	94	98	108
Total Length	88	100	150	155	168	178	180	182	197
Average Thickness (mm)	0.8	0.8	1	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.6	1.8

Note that this table denotes averages for certain ranges of alligator belly widths. Actual sizes on specific hides may vary from these values.

Measuring Python Skin

Python skin is measured in terms of both length and width at the center. Length is typically measured in meters and width is typically measured in centimeters at the widest point of the skin.

The reticulated python skin carried by PanAm Leathers averages 3.25 meters in length, 31-32 cm in width at the widest point and 15-16 cm in width at the ends.

Meanwhile, the short-tailed python carried by PanAm Leathers averages 1.5 meters in length, is 28-29 cm in width at the widest point, and is 14-15 cm in width at the ends. Both python skins average 0.8-1.0 mm thickness in the center.

The tapering of a python skin will affect how much the skin will yield for panels in your exotic leather designs. This is why it’s important to know the width at both the widest point of the hide and at the ends.

Picking a Size and Grade of Exotic Skin for Your Project

Exotic leather of any kind can be expensive, so you want to make sure you get the most out of your skin. The ideal size and grade of skin needed for your project depends on the size of your panels, how much seaming you are comfortable with both technically and aesthetically, and also the scale (or other natural skin pattern) size with which you are comfortable.

For example, you probably don’t want huge scales on a small card case. Meanwhile, handbags typically require the best grades, followed by garments and upholstery, then footwear, and finally belts and smaller leather goods.

Need help finding the perfect alligator skin or crocodile skin for your needs? Contact the exotic leather experts at Pan American Leathers today!

Making the Perfect Python Skin Handbag

mark@panamleathers.com (Mark Mendal) — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:27:00 GMT

Exotic leather handbags are a strong and distinctive fashion choice that can be a major source of pride for not only their owners, but for the designers who create these beautiful bags for exclusive clientele.

When creating an exotic leather handbag, it’s important to pick the best type of leather for your creative vision and to use it to its best effect. One great option for making handbags is python skin. Why make a python skin handbag? How can you get the most out of your python leather to create the best bag that will attract top-quality clients?

Reasons to Use Python Skin

Python skin is a luxurious material has a variety of benefits that make it the ideal option for your handbag projects. Some of the key reasons why it’s such a good fit for handbag projects include:

Reason #1: Size

Pythons come in many sizes. On the small end, pythons can be 1.5 meters long and 25 cm wide. On the larger end of the spectrum, some pythons can grow to be 6.5 meters long and 60 cm or more in width, which makes this exotic skin ideal for the large panels required for plus-sized handbags.

With many skins, finding large, intact hides of sufficient size to fill a panel for a handbags can be difficult. The large sizes that python skins can reach, however, make acquiring skins of sufficient size for a handbag much simpler. In fact, python skins have been used for even larger projects, such as bed frames, sofas, and tables.

Reason #2: Availability of Grade I Hides

When making a handbag or other object that requires large panels where flaws cannot be easily hidden, you need a hide that has little to no defects such as scuffs, scars, and holes. Such defects can ruin the appearance of the final product.

Because python hides are collected from farms in addition to wild sources, it is much easier to find grade I skins that are free of flaws. Animals that grow in the wild are exposed to any number of potential sources of harm, from prey animals fighting back, predation by other animals, or harm from natural events such as a tree limb or rock falling on the python’s hide and puncturing the skin. Farmers protect python skins from being harmed by eliminating the potential for contact with predators and other forms of accidental damage.

This is one reason why pythons made the list of our favorite exotic leathers to use for handbags and anacondas did not, even though anacondas also reach large sizes and have well-defined scale patterns.

Reason #3: Scale Patterns and Markings

If you choose to use an unbleached python skin for your handbag, you’ll also enjoy the benefit of having a truly unique, one-of-a-kind pattern in the handbag you create. The natural markings of the python are highly recognizable and distinctive, serving as a badge of authenticity for the handbag. When a handbag is made with unbleached python skin, people will know right away.

Even bleached, the smooth scales of the python help to accent the look of the handbag, adding texture that can be both seen and felt. Whether with an elegant gloss finish or a more casual matte wax finish, the sleek scales of the python on a handbag are a beauty to behold.

Whether you choose to use an unbleached skin to highlight the natural markings on the hide, or bleach it before dyeing it to create a smoother, more uniform look, a python skin handbag is sure to turn heads wherever it goes, even among gatherings of the rich and famous.

Reason #4: Flexibility

While an untanned python skin can be very rigid, once the hide has been chromed and re-tanned with vegetable-based tanning solutions, it becomes very flexible. This makes python skin leather ideal for products that require the ability to flex, such as large handbags.

Because the python’s hide will flex easily, it is less likely to develop crease marks when it is subjected to being bent, which happens to handbags quite frequently as their owners dig around in them for that one item they’re looking for or are holding the bag in place with their arm while walking about.

Overall, python skin is a high-luxury material that will serve the needs of your most discerning clients extremely well.

Tips for Making Exotic Leather Handbags with Python Skin

To ensure that you make the best python skin handbag to meet your most discerning client’s demands, it’s important to follow a few “best practices” for handling this exotic leather. Here are a few tips to help get you started on your python bag project:

Tip #1: Selecting the Right Python Skin

Before you can start crafting that perfect python skin handbag, you first have to choose which python skins to use. When selecting python skin, consider the following:

Grade. Handbags normally have very large, open panels. Because of this you typically need large, grade I skins. In a large handbag panel, there is little to no room to hide or work around flaws in a hide.
Size of the Handbag. Are you creating a small clutch bag, or a big bag? The bigger your project is, the larger the skin you’ll need. If you want to minimize your expenses, you’ll want to make sure that the skins that you order are only as large as you need to fit your panels. However, some handbags are so large that they need to be seamed regardless. If you are flexible, try working from what you can find in stock at tanneries and resellers.
Colors. Do you have a specific color in mind for your handbags, perhaps to match other items in your collection? When shopping for hides, it’s important to make sure that you get the colors you want so that your final product can match your creative vision. Here, buying your skins directly from a tannery can be helpful, as they can dye the hides any color you want during the tanning process.
Skin Patterns. One of the most distinctive features of a python’s skin is the patterns of colored scales on it. When ordering python hides, you often have the option of ordering either naturally-patterned skin, or ordering skins that were bleached to remove these patterns. Using natural patterns helps to quickly establish the finished piece as a genuine python skin product, while bleached skins often have a cleaner, more uniform appearance.

Keeping the above in mind while selecting python hides for your handbag project can help you ensure that the skin you get is suitable for your needs.

Tip #2: Using Scrap Material

With the largest python skins, it is often possible to get multiple panels for a handbag from a single hide. However, material near the tip of the tail tends to be much narrower than material from the midsection. This makes materials near the tip less useful for large sections of the handbag. Instead, use these portions of the skin for straps, trim, zipper pulls and other smaller details.

By using material that would otherwise be scrapped, you can get more from your exotic leather purchase, and add a more personal touch to your designs.

Tip #3: Creating Shoulder Straps

When creating handbags that use carry straps, consider buying a few extra small, low grade to use specifically for making carry straps. These skins do not necessarily have to be grade I skins, as you will have a little room to work around flaws in the hide here.

The other way to create shoulder straps would be to use sections of skin from in-between the areas cut out for the larger panels of the handbag. Unfortunately, this limits the length you can get without seaming.

Tip #4: Where to Buy Your Skin

With the above tips in mind, where should you go to buy your python skin for your next handbag project?

For exotic skins, there are two types of businesses that can furnish you with tanned hides:

Tanneries. These are the businesses that actually process raw hides and turn them into leather. These businesses can process skins “to order,” putting them through tanning processes that best suit your needs. Every order from a tannery will include a surcharge to cover setup costs, whether you order one skin or a hundred skins. Tanneries are the best option for large custom skin orders where time is not an issue.
Distributors. Unlike tanneries, distributors don’t process the skins themselves. Instead, they order skins from tanneries in bulk, storing them for a quick sale to their own customers (such as you). Most distributors keep a large stock of popular exotic skins in a few different colors. The big advantage here is that the skins you order from a distributor are already finished, so they can ship you your order as soon as it’s complete. However, distributors do charge a markup over what the tanneries charge them for the skins they sell. Distributors are generally best for small orders of commonly-available skin colors and finishes, especially when time is a factor (such as when you’re in a rush to get a prototype finished for a fashion show or other event).

In addition to the two businesses above, you can also place an order with a manufacturer, who will order their skins from either a tannery or a distributor, and then handle the process of turning your skins into a finished product. This is a good choice for designers who don’t have an in-house production team to work with, or who simply want to focus on the design aspect of creating products without having to worry about managing a team of workers.

We hope that you find these tips useful. If you want to learn more about working with exotic leather for a variety of projects, contact Pan American Leathers today, or request a consultation at the link below:,

Making the Perfect Crocodile Skin Handbag: Caiman vs Nile

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:18:00 GMT

Crocodile skin is a luxurious, supple material that is very much in demand in the fashion industry. With high-fashion crocodile handbags selling for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, getting the manufacture of your crocodile skin right is incredibly important for impressing ultra-wealthy clients.

When starting a crocodile handbag project, following a few simple tips can help you get the most out of your project.

Tip #1: Choosing Your Crocodilian Species

There are a few dozen different species of crocodiles in the world, a few of which are commonly used for leather. Two of the most popular are:

The caiman crocodile.
The Nile crocodile.

With handbags, you generally want to have a flexible material to use for the bag. The caiman crocodile has the boniest skin, rendering it less flexible and harder to work with. Nile crocodiles have some calcium deposits, but not nearly as much as caiman crocodiles do.

This boniness also affects how well each species of crocodile will take to being dyed, so keep that in mind as well. Bonier hides are tougher to dye evenly, while less bony hides are easier to dye.

Reasons to Work with Caiman Crocodile Skin

With caiman skin being one of the more difficult of the most popular crocodilian hides to work with, why would you want to use it instead of Nile crocodile or American alligator skin for your handbag project? There are actually a few reasons for using caiman skin in your handbags over the other types of crocodilian species, such as:

Cost. On average, for every Nile croc skin that you could afford for your leather project, you could buy three caiman skins for close to the same price.
Rigidity. Often viewed as a negative quality, the rigidity of the caiman’s hide can actually be desirable for hard-case designs. The pronounced, calcium-rich scales in caiman skin are sturdy, making them ideal for a more rigid case design.
Natural Scale Patterns. With caiman hides, the calcium deposits in the skin actively resist getting an even dye color. While this can make the skin more difficult to dye, it also helps to establish the final product as a genuine crocodile hide product. The lighter-colored portions of the hide represent a mark of the calcium in the hide. This adds authenticity to the final product and lets buyers know that they’re getting a genuine crocodile skin product, not a stamped imitation.

While generally regarded as being more difficult to work with than the other crocodilian hides, caiman skin is still a high-quality material for any high-fashion project. Using caiman skins to the greatest effect can separate the pros from the amateurs when it comes to fashion design.

Reasons to Work with Nile Crocodile Skin

Nile crocodile skins are an ever-popular option for making exotic leather handbags. Some of the reasons Nile crocodile skin is virtually perfect for handbags include:

Size. Most high-fashion handbag projects demand fairly large panels. Smaller leather hides, such as the caiman crocodile or the ring lizard cannot fill these panels with a single skin. This means having to stitch multiple hides together to fit a single panel, which can impact the appearance and integrity of the final product. Nile crocodile skins come in sizes of 13-15 ft. long and are up to 70 cm wide on average. This makes the Nile crocodile’s hide large enough to fit almost any handbag panel with a single skin.
Appearance. The Nile crocodile offers a beautiful and distinctive aesthetic for fashion designers, one that is instantly distinguishable from common cowhide. Nile crocodiles have some of the largest belly scales of any crocodilian species. There are 14-16 large square-shaped scales per row on a Nile crocodile’s belly and 24-26 rows of scales in total. The minimal level of calcium content in these scales makes them relatively easy to dye. This makes getting consistent colors easier than it would be with a bonier hide, such as caiman crocodile hide. Hides from Nile crocodiles have weak to medium surface pitting, helping create a distinctive appearance without being excessively pitted.
Flexibility. While Nile crocodiles have some bone content in their hides, it’s less than a tenth of what you’d find in a caiman crocodile hide. This makes the skin of a Nile crocodile much more flexible than caiman skin. This is great for handbags, which may be subjected to repeated flexing as they’re handled. The added flexibility helps to prevent crease marks from forming, preserving the pristine appearance of the handbag for longer. Additionally, the flexibility of the hide makes it easier to work with than bony hides, but some extra prep work with a Dremel to thin the hide before sewing it is still recommended.

Nile crocodile skins are ideal for making handbags, which might explain why they’re in such high demand. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to work with this top-shelf exotic material for your own high-fashion project!

Tip #2: Choosing the Size and Grade of Hides

With handbags, you’ll need to use very large, clean panels of skin for each bag. High-fashion handbag customers want only top-quality workmanship and materials, so top-grade skins will be the most desirable. In most cases, you will need nearly flawless, grade I skin to get the best results.

For small handbags, the crocodile hide should be at least 30 to 34cm wide. Medium-sized handbags generally need 35 to 39cm-wide skins, and large handbags take 40 to 50cm-wide grade I skins. If flaws in the skin are kept to the extreme edges of the hide, you might be able to use a grade II skin that is oversized.

Tip #3: Using Scraps for Straps

If the layout of your panels leaves you with excess hide, use that extra skin to make the carry strap, gussets, interior details, and other odd parts. This can save you a large amount of money on buying extra skins and gives you accents that will perfectly match the handbag they are attached to.

If you don’t have enough excess material to do this, consider buying smaller, grade II or III skins to make into carry straps. With these straps, it’s easier to work around flaws in the hide, as long as they aren’t extra-wide. When buying hides specifically for straps, make sure that they’re the same type of cut (belly or hornback, for example) and come from the same dye lot as the ones being used for the bags themselves.

Tip #4: Preparing Sewing Lines

When working with bonier hides such as caiman or Nile crocodile skins, be sure to prepare sewing lines with a dremel or other tool to thin the hide and prevent calcium deposits from bending or breaking your needles. In the long run, taking a few minutes to prepare sewing lines will actually save you time and frustration on fixing up your sewing machines and replacing needles every other motion.

To get more tips about working with caiman hides for handbags and other popular accessories, contact Pan American Leathers. Or, you can get a free project consultation today using the link below.

Picking the Right Alligator Skin for Your Handbag Project (+Benefits)

abram@panamleathers.com (Abram Mendal) — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:04:19 GMT

As many designers know, the market for high-fashion handbags and other accessories is an intensely competitive market. With so many major fashion houses out there with such a strong grip on the market, it can be difficult for any single fashion designer to stand out.

However, difficult is not impossible.

With the right design, a lot of hard work, and some top-quality materials, you can make a gorgeous handbag that high-fashion aficionados will covet for their own collection. What is a top-quality material for handbags, you ask? One example of a top-of-the-line material for handbags would be American alligator skin.

Reasons to Use Alligator Leather for Handbags

Why would you want to work with alligator skin? It is a top-rate material for handbags, with a price point to match, which may make it prohibitively expensive for some. However, the exclusivity is part of the allure.

What are the benefits of working with alligator skin as opposed to plain cowhide? Read on and see.

Benefit #1: It’s Visually Distinctive

With an alligator hide, your final product has a built-in texture from the natural scale pattern of the alligator. This adds visual pop that helps to set the bag apart from ordinary cowhide and catches the attention of high-fashion accessory lovers.

Benefit #2: It’s a Very Exclusive Material

Alligator skin is prohibitively expensive, which makes it very exclusive. Ultra-wealthy clients wait for years for their orders with the big fashion houses to be filled, and/or pay exorbitant sums for used bags from private collections because so few of these bags are available and the demand for them is so high, which brings us to our next point…

Benefit #3: It’s Highly Sought After

Top-end fashion clients love buying things made from top-end materials, and alligator skin is a top-end material. When fashion clients buy alligator skin handbags, they’re coming in prepared to spend top dollar, making alligator skin handbags a very lucrative venture for any up-and-coming fashion designer.

Upper-crust clients know how rare and valuable a top-quality alligator skin handbag is, and they want one of their own. For many of these clients, a genuine alligator leather handbag is a badge of distinction, a mark that they have it all, while others simply insist on having the best, and will settle for nothing less.

Benefit #4: It’s a Mark of Quality

The best handbags are usually made from the best materials, and people know it. Alligator leather is widely regarded as one of the best materials on the market for high-fashion handbags, so any handbag made from alligator skin lends cache to your brand.

Choosing the Right Alligator Skin for Your Handbag Project

Our handbag customers frequently ask us to help them pick the right alligator skin for their handbags. The first thing we need to know is the dimensions of the main panels (usually two same-sized panels: front and back).

Our customer will usually provide those dimensions in inches, for example, 15” wide by 12” tall. We then convert that to centimeters (multiple the inches measurement by 2.55) which in this case would be approximately 39 cm wide by 31 cm tall.

The larger of these dimensions (39 cm in this case) will dictate the size of the alligator we need. We take 39 cm and add 15% to be safe and we get 44 cm. This means we need one 44 cm or larger skin for the front panel and one for the back panel.

Typically, handbags customers don’t want any defects on those panels so the alligator skin should be grade 1 or 2. The alligator skin bellies are used for the two main panels and the alligator skin tail and head are used for the gussets, the bottom, the handles and other adornments.

How Skins Are Measured for Leather Clutches

On smaller bags like clutches, the front and back are sometimes made of one alligator skin panel with no seams to break it up. In that case, we need the dimensions of that entire panel – NOT the front and back separately. First, measure the width edge to edge as usual.

Then, use a tape measure to wrap from the top of the bag on one side (under the bag) to the top on the other side. These dimensions are usually approximately 10” wide by 10” long which converts to approximately 26 cm wide by 26 cm long. Add 15% and you get 30 cm by 30 cm. In this example, you need one 30 cm or larger skin. Again, the belly is used for the main panel, and the head and tail for everything else.

There are other ways to complete your panels, like using large, low-grade skins. At times, this can be more cost effective. But it only works if the design calls for many smaller panels seamed together as opposed to fewer, larger panels.

Note Of Caution: This is meant to be a general guide and may not apply to every project. We insist that you work with a manufacturer who has extensive experience with alligator skin and double-check with them to make sure you are getting the right alligator skin.

A 4-Point Checklist for Choosing the Ideal Alligator Skin for Handbags and Clutches

What are the dimensions of your main panel(s)?
Convert those dimensions to cm by multiplying the inches by 2.55.
Add 15% to arrive at the minimum size alligator you can use for the main panel.
How many panels do you have to cover in that size? That is how many alligator skins you will need in the minimum size discovered in step 3.

Getting Your Alligator Leather

Overall, alligator leather is an excellent material for creating high-fashion handbags. Luxurious, supple, and very easy to work with, alligator leather is a top-quality material for talented fashion designers. However, it is one that can be hard to acquire because of the incredibly high level of demand for it and the limited number of skins available.

Alligator skin is in very short supply, so distributors don't typically stock much.

Tanneries, on the other hand, make skins “to order,” so you can get virtually any color of dye applied to your alligator skin. The major drawbacks here are that it can take a long time for an order to be processed, and the tannery will have to cover their setup costs with a surcharge.

Pan American Leathers offers the best of both worlds by acting as a tannery and as a distributor. We keep a ready stock of popular colors for short-notice orders, or we can custom tan your alligator hide order to give you the finish and coloration you want.