The origins & history of leather

Primitive man found that the skins of animals were warm & strong but soon began to rot & fall to pieces (putrefy). He then discovered that if the skins were thoroughly dried first, this putrefaction process would stop. This however made the skins brittle and they broke easily. It was then primitive man started using fish oils, smoke, wood etc, and tanned the skins. Having found that tanning solved the problems with his skins, he then quickly developed uses for these tanned skins from things such as shoes to canoes etc.

Leather has been made in various locations around the world for thousands of years thereafter. Leather can be traced to ancient China where the Chinese discovered the waterproofing qualities of leather and then used leather for cups & bowls. Leather has also been used in biblical times for parchment scrolls. Then, the Romans where amongst the first to use leather for sandals and other such accessories. The Middle Ages saw the gentle progression of uses of leather from saddles & harnesses to luggage. These days, one can see leather taking a large variety of forms including garments, furniture, desk sets, floor tiling, tableware, sporting goods etc.