CAROLINA'S
GUIDE
TO
LEATHER
COWHIDE LEATHER
At Carolina Leather Industry, we choose our leather carefully. All work glove leather isn’t the same, and neither are all jobs. We’ve put together a quick primer illustrating the characteristics that define leather types and how they’re best used. We want to make sure your hands are always covered with the right materials for the job.
Grain cowhide, along with split cowhide, is the most commonly used of all grain leathers due to its broad availability from all over the world. Grain cowhide leather gloves are typically thicker than other leathers – this contributes to their exceptional wear performance
The pearl or grey split cowhide leather is the most commonly-used of all glove leathers. A wide variety of leather grades and qualities are commonly used offering very economical glove selections for a variety of uses. Split cowhide leather is typically the leather of choice for the traditional leather palm work glove.
BUFFALO LEATHER
Buffalo is derived from domestic buffalo hides. The buffalo leather has a unique and different grain pattern as compared to cow or goat leather. This leather is extremely durable as the buffalo skin is much thicker as compared to cow and other animal hides generally in use. Besides being thick, this leather is still very soft and flexible which makes it an ideal material for premium leather goods
DEAR LEATHER
deerskin leather is noted for its extraordinary strength and resilience to wear and tear. This is owing to deer hide’s distinct structure, which has a tighter grain pattern and a thicker covering of collagen fibers than cowhide. As a result, deerskin leather is less likely to stretch, crack, or stiffen with time, thus becoming a common option for products requiring longevity and toughness, such as coats, boots, and work gloves.
Goat LEATHER
Goat leather is a type of leather made from the skin of goats. It is a durable and versatile material that can be used for various purposes. It is soft, lightweight, and has a distinctive & authentic texture. This unique can be found in different types, such as full-grain, top-grain, nubuck and suede.
SHEEP LEATHER
The sheep hide with the fur left on is known as sheepskin/ shearling. Usually, before tanning the skin, the animal fur is removed. However, in the case of sheepskin, it is tanned without removing the fleece. It has a smooth texture with evenly spaced between pores. Also, it gives a velvety and soft feel upon touch.
GLOVE CARE
FULL LEATHER – Leather gloves should not be washed. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry vertically.
GRAIN LEATHER PALM – Wipe with a damp cloth and dry vertically.
SPLIT LEATHER PALM – Brush off loose dirt. Do not use any water with split leather.
SYNTHETIC LEATHER – Machine wash on permanent press setting. Tumble dry low or hang to dry. Do not bleach. Do not dry clean.
COATED – Hand wash entire glove with water only. Hang to dry.