Chamois leather general
Chamois leather is leather that has been preserved through blubber tanning. This process involves using blubber or fish oil, which acts on the hides in a 6-9 month process. The blubber used comes primarily from cod. In two phases, the leather is alternately milled and dried until the oxidation of the blubber substances makes the leather durable.
Properties of chamois leather
There are two different types of chamois leather, each defined by the type of tanning process. "Genuine chamois" is leather tanned solely with fish oil. However, a combination of formaldehyde tanning and subsequent tanning with chamois is referred to as "new chamois leather." Chamois leather is often bleached with hydrogen peroxide, as its dark brown color makes it unpopular in the industry. The finished leather is characterized by its softness, ease of cleaning, absorbency, and temperature resistance up to 70°C.
Use of chamois leather
In addition to sheepskins and goatskins, tanning is also used for wild animals. After removing the grain layer from deer or stag hides, this type of leather produces a beautiful suede. Chamois leather from red deer is primarily used for traditional clothing or gloves. Due to its washability, sweat resistance, and softness, chamois-tanned leather is also used in orthopedics. This type of leather is also popular for cleaning purposes or as chamois leather.
Additional sources (accessed 07.12.2018):
- oeko-fair(dot)de/clever-consumption/clothes-decoration/leather/production6/tanning/fat-tanning
- de(dot)wikipedia(dot)org/wiki/S%C3%A4mixed leather
- lederzentrum(dot)de/wiki/index.php/S%C3%A4mischleder
