Learn about the characteristics of leather
What is leather?
"Leather" is made from animal skins.
Leather is mainly made from the by-products of meat.
The skin before tanning is called "raw skin" and the leather after tanning is called "leather".
Leather is a material in raw and cannot be left untouched.
Leather is tanned before it hardens and decomposes, making it more durable and easier to keep for a long time.
"Leather" is proof of the animal's life.
All leather bears the marks of animal life, such as stains, scars, and wrinkles.
Scratches and cuts left on the skin by thorns, healed cuts, insect-eaten marks, wrinkles on the neck and blood lines, etc., are "proof of life" made possible only by living creatures.
We humans tend to avoid this natural pattern as a flaw in leather, but is this really correct?
Of course, scratches and wrinkles that would affect durability are not acceptable, but when we think about the fact that even the smallest scratch is proof that the animal lived hard just as we did, we begin to love each and every one of them.
In the actual history of leather use, flaws and bloodstains have been accepted and loved as part of its charm.
We want to deliver the original beauty of leather.
Such scratches and marks can be cleaned up to some extent by applying a layer of color or strong treatment, but this also leads to the loss of leather's natural functions, such as moisture absorption and formability.
Rather than the processed beauty of leather, we want people to enjoy the original characteristics of leather and the changes in texture over time for a long time.
Why has leather been used for footwear since ancient times?"
I think that is where the answer lies.
We want our customers to feel the charm of texture and its change, which can be enjoyed only with leather, a material that becomes more attractive as it is used over a long period of time and in many ways.
This is Miyagi Kogyo's concept of sustainability and the appeal of leather products.
Types of tanning
There are two types of tanning: Vegetable tanning and chrome tanning.
"Vegetable tanning" is a method that has been used since ancient times to tan leather using natural ingredients such as plant tannins.
It takes time and effort, but it allows us to take advantage of the leather's texture and create leather with a heavy feel that changes over time the more it is used.
On the other hand, "chrome tanning" is a tanning method that uses chemicals containing chromium. It is a relatively new method that was developed in the late 1800s.
Although the original texture of the leather is somewhat compromised, in return we are able to create lighter and softer leather.
Both tanning methods have their own characteristics and advantages and disadvantages.
Miyagi Kogyo Co., Ltd. uses different types of leather depending on the characteristics and design of the product.
Types of leather scratches
Before being processed, raw hides have various traces that are proof that the animal lived.
Miyagi Kogyo Co., Ltd. are used like this leather in our products.
We also use leather that leaves these "living marks" as they are, without trying to erase them through processing, allowing the natural texture to be retained.
We hope you will enjoy using this product and appreciate the unique charm that can only be achieved by using natural materials.
Tora (wrinkles on neck, etc.)
Scar
Blood vessels (vascular lines)
