leather
Let an agent identify leather by animal, grade, tannage and finish, relay labelling, chemical and animal-origin rules from regulators, explain care and durability, and separate leather from synthetic and plant-based substitutes.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent identify leather by animal, grade, tannage and finish, relay labelling, chemical and animal-origin rules from regulators, explain care and durability, and separate leather from synthetic and plant-based substitutes.
A durable material made by tanning the skin of animals, most often cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, so that the collagen fibres resist decay; graded by the layer of the hide used and finished in many ways, it is used for footwear, clothing, bags, upholstery, saddlery and bookbinding.
What it is for: Making durable goods from animal skin.
It can be identify the type and grade of leather; explain tanning and finishing; relay labelling, chemical and trade rules; advise on care and cleaning in general terms.
Distinguishing features
Animal skin stabilised by tanning
Grade follows the hide layer: full grain, top grain, split, bonded
Tannage: chrome, vegetable, or combination
Breathable and ages with patina, unlike coated fabrics
What it looks like
A flexible sheet with a grain surface on one side and a fibrous flesh side, in natural or dyed colours.
Physical character
thickness: 0.5-4 mm - by use
tensile strength: 10-30 MPa - varies with animal and tannage
moisture: 10-15 percent - conditioned
How it is recognised
Natural grain with irregular pores, a fibrous cut edge and a characteristic smell
Full grain, corrected grain, split and bonded leather look and wear differently
Coated fabrics sold as vegan or faux leather are not leather
Related models
is a kind of - made from skin
is made by - the process that stabilises it
is confused with - coated fabrics imitate it
is used in - main uses
In practice
Families and kinds
cattle hide leather
sheepskin and lambskin
goatskin and kidskin
pigskin
exotic leathers such as reptile and fish skin, which are trade-controlled
suede, nubuck and patent finishes
Identifiers
leather type labels full grain, top grain, split, bonded trade terms defined by standards
CITES listing appendix I to III for exotic species
Standards and regulation
ISO and EN standards for leather terminology, testing and labelling
EU REACH restrictions on chromium VI and other substances
CITES for skins of listed species
Country of origin and textile-style labelling rules where they apply
Failure modes and hazards
Chromium VI contamination causing skin reactions
Cracking and rot from poor care or damp storage
Misdescription of bonded or coated products as leather
Pollution from tanneries
Also called
+4
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.leather
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identify Which leather this is.
Grade and animal decide quality.
Type
Animal and grade.
Type
Type.
- Which animal and which layer of the hide is the leather, and how is that determined? definition
- Is the material leather, bonded leather or a coated fabric? boundary
Tannage
Tanning and finish.
Tannage
Tannage.
- Is it chrome, vegetable or combination tanned, and how was it finished? definition
- Which entry fits the tanning process? action
Quality Properties and testing.
Numbers settle claims.
Properties
Physical properties.
Properties
Properties.
- What thickness, strength and flexibility does the leather have, and how are they tested? measurement
- Which standards define the tests? provenance
Care
Care and ageing.
Care
Care.
- How should this leather be cleaned, conditioned and stored, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user asking about a specific damaged item, which needs a specialist? boundary
Rules Labelling, chemicals and trade.
Leather is regulated.
Labelling
Labelling.
Labelling
Labelling.
- What may be sold as leather, and what labelling do standards and law require? provenance
- Which entry fits consumer protection? action
Chemicals and trade
Chemical and species rules.
Chemicals
Chemicals.
- Which chemical restrictions and species trade rules apply? provenance
- Which entry fits CITES? action
Context Industry and alternatives.
Leather sits in a debate.
Industry
Industry.
Industry
Industry.
- How is the leather industry organised, and what environmental issues do regulators and industry bodies describe? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Alternatives
Substitutes.
Alternatives
Alternatives.
- What substitutes exist and how do their properties compare, with claims attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral on animal welfare debates? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- Should each animal leather be a separate entry?
- How should chemical restrictions be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases such as shagreen and cordovan; should they be split off?