The Qualities of Ostrich leather are what make it a truly amazing and versatile leather. Why does it look the way it does? Where does it come from? Why is it so expensive? These are some of the basic questions you might ask if you are looking to buy Ostrich Leather.
7 Qualities of Ostrich leather.
- Origin of Ostrich leather
- Distinct appearance
- Strength
- Price or cost
- Size of hide
- Stretchability
- Use or function
Let’s take a look at each one of these characteristics individually.
Origins of Ostrich leather.
Today ostrich leather can be bought anywhere in the world, but it wasn’t always the case. 75% of all Ostrich leather comes from South Africa. Other countries that produce Ostrich leather include the USA, Australia, China, Iran and Israel, but these are on a much smaller scale compared to South African production. The most sought after species is the African Black Ostrich.
Ostrich leather became widely used in the 1850’s when farmers from South Africa realized that they could use Ostrich for more than just meat and feathers. What followed was years of experimenting to perfect the tanning process. After many attempts they eventually found a process that could work and was financially viable and the Ostrich leather industry was born.
Distinct appearance of Ostrich leather.
Ostrich has a very distinct appearance unlike any other leather. Ostrich is an exotic leather and one of the most widely used in the world. Most leather comes from cows, horses, lamb but Ostrich is unique in that it comes from a giant bird.
The feathers need to be removed before the hide can be tanned. This results in vacant holes or bumps being left over after the feather quills are removed. These empty feather follicles or pips are what give ostrich its unique bumpy appearance.
Strength of Ostrich leather.
Ostrich leather is one of the strongest leathers around. It is quite thin compared to cowhide which is usually about 1,2mm thick. It has an average of tensile strength of around 101 to 249N/mm2. Which makes it incredibly strong and hard wearing. Compare this to kangaroo’s tensile strength which is considered the strongest leather in the world which ranges from 250 to 400N/mm2. Check out my post on Kangaroo leather if you would like a bit more on the qualities of benefits of K leather.
Price of Ostrich leather.
The highly specialized tanning process drives up the price which makes it much more expensive to produce compared to cowhide. The price will depend on which part of the ostrich the leather comes from. The most sought after area being the crown where the neck meets the body. The crown contains most of the quill follicles or pips and this area is the most expensive. The number of quill marks reduce as you get further from the crown area.
Ostrich leather has various grades which influence its pricing. Other factors that affect the price are the size of the hide and how many defects, scratches or marks are found in the crown area. This will then be categorized into either Grade A, B or C. Grade A being the best Grade and stating that the entire crown area is available for use.
The price can range from $100 right on up to $ 200 depending on the quality. The leather is mainly exported from South Africa which seems to have a monopoly on production. Check out the Hides available from Springfield Leather Company.
Size of Ostrich hide.
The hides or skin of an ostrich are quite small in that they range from about 1,2m² to about 1,5m² per ostrich. Of on average 145 dm² or 15.61sqft. Compare this to the average cowhide which ranges from 45-60sqft. (4.2 -5,5m²) That is a huge difference.
Leather can also be made out of the legs of an ostrich. The legs have an even more unique appearance than the hide as you can see in the image below.
Stretchability of Ostrich leather
Ostrich leather, although quite strong and resistant to tearing is not meant to be stretched. It is a thick, durable and soft leather. There is some stretchability to it, but only a small amount.
Uses of Ostrich leather.
Ostrich is a very versatile leather which can be used in a variety of products. Some of the more well known products are boots, handbags, jacket, wallets and gloves.
Its also widely used in the automotive industry as it adds a certain level of class and sophistication to the vehicle its used in.
Some sporting brands eg. Nike have brought out their own range of football boots that are partly made from Ostrich leather. It’s tough and has some stretch so is worthwhile using.
Conclusion.
Ostrich leather is highly distinctive in its appearance and is an incredibly strong leather. It is used for making boots, wallets and handbags and is world renowned for its beauty and versatility. The qualities of Ostrich leather are what make it such an amazing exotic leather to own, wear and to use. Please have a look at some of my other posts if you would like to learn some more about leather and leathercraft.