Understanding leather: common leather types used in women casual shoes

Casual shoes have an aura that makes them the go-to footwear for the women of all ages. One of the main reasons for their widespread popularity is the down-to-earth designs and shapes. The use of fine quality leather is perhaps another reason why they are so revered.

Leather use: The evolution

Leather shoes, at old days, were made out of deer and bear skin without any much processing. But women casual shoes that we buy online have come a long way since then. Even a few decades ago, leather casual shoes for women meant simple upper made from leather; no various types of tanning methods and treatment to distinguish all sorts of leathers. So, clearly women casual shoes made of leather have evolved quite stupendously.

How to know about the various leather types?

With a vast array of variety in the style and texture of the leathers, things might look complicated. In addition to that, there is a question of which leather shoe are fit for which occasion. All of this makes the in-depth study of various leathers an uneasy subject. But when you have a friend and guide in form of online platforms, nothing is boring and dull. The various online platforms provide a smooth and lucid breakdown of the common leather types used in the women casual shoes that are found in India.

The common leather types

Roughout – Roughout leather has the rough side on the outer part of the shoes; hence such name.  The soft surface of this type of leather has a super neppy texture and sturdy enough to take a lot of wear and tear. Not shiny enough but breathable enough to make your feet feel comfortable.

Veg-tanned – As the name suggests, this type of leather is made with a combination of the vegetable matters and tree barks during the tanning process; thereby creating stiff and naturally coloured leather.  As time goes, this kind of material darkens and softens up creating an amazing patina which is beautiful to watch. However, such process makes them unstable in water and can shrink or become brittle while drying.

Pull-up – Such kind of leathers create a broad strip of heavily waxed and oiled layer of aniline and chrome. The colour of the upper of the women casual shoes using this leather, therefore, lightens on pinching or ‘pulling up’ of the leather. As a result, the leather can absorb scruffs and scrapes successfully while staying clean and stain free.

Chamois – Also known as ‘shammy leather’, chamois is famous for its soft hand and water absorbency. These abilities make it quite common as a material for polishing cloth. But in the case of footwear, its strong affinity for moisture can be a drawback. Such limitation is erased by using a heavy dose of wax and oil on the upper layer of the leather. This makes chamois a sturdy and shiny leather for women casual shoes.

Suede - The suede skin is buffed and sanded down to an even and delicate texture which makes the leather soft and comfortable to wear. The suede material is light and works best during the summers when women prefer something light for their feet.

Women casual shoes that we find on the online stores of India are the ones that make comfort footwear a fashionable and classy object. And it is the leather that plays an instrumental role in making them such. So, the next time you opt to shop for women casual shoes, remember about the leathers.

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