As much as we have talked about leather, there are always new types being introduced. How exciting! We're going to be talking about a totally different product in this post from both an appearance and manufacturing standpoint. Moreover, the way patent leather is maintained may vary depending on the product in question i.e. a jacket, shoes, furniture, or any other accessory. The most popular use for patent leather is in the footwear industry. There must have been people in the room with you that wore the kind of formal shoes that are extremely shiny, making them stand out amongst the others.

The material used to make those shoes is called patent leather. Clothing pieces such as jackets and trousers are commonly crafted from it as well. However, before we delve any further into what exactly is patent leather, and how it differs from any other type of leather, let's take a moment to discover a little bit more about its history and origin.

Is Patent Leather Real Leather?

Patent leather is made from leather treated with chemicals, oils, and waxes to create a glossy, reflective appearance. Most people find it in black color in the markets, and it has long been very popular among youth for clothing and shoes. When it comes to the manufacturing process of patent leather, most of the steps are similar to those used for other types of leather. In the final step of the finishing process, a lacquer is applied to create the glossiness to give it that specific and distinct appearance.

What Is Patent Leather Made Of?

Meat byproducts are typically used to obtain hides for leather manufacturing. The reason patent leather is usually light and thin is that it's made from small animals, such as calves. It is possible to group the hides of small animals into three types; an outer hairy layer, a thick layer in the center, and an inner fatty layer. A technique called tanning is used to remove the hair and fat from the hide after it has been separated from the animal.

After the middle layer has been treated chemically, it is preserved and strengthened. This also enables the leather to retain its flexibility. Many different processes have been used throughout history for tanning, but chemical tanning is the most common nowadays. The main purpose of tanning is to strengthen hides by reacting with the collagen in plants. Leather is also made more elastic and durable when tanned.

What's The Difference Between Patent Leather And Leather?

Traditionally, leather comes from cow and calf hides, but it can also be derived from sheep, lamb, goat, and pig skins. Clothing, shoes, couches, purses, gloves, bookbinding, shoes, etc., can all be made of the material. Due to the high price of leather products, many people prefer faux leather products. In addition, real leather is very durable, which is why you know you'll get a long time out of it. Because leather is made of natural materials and is porous, it is not waterproof. This is critical to consider when purchasing products made of real leather material.

In the case of patent leather, the leather is coated in plastic or lacquer. Thus, patent leather products appear to be shinier than leather because of this process. Designers like patent leather because it has a smooth surface and is popular among high-end brands. Additionally, since it is a plastic coating over leather or faux leather, it is actually less expensive than regular leather. It is also waterproof, which is another plus for this type of leather. A coating of linseed oil is what makes it waterproof, resulting in a smooth, glossy, glass-like surface. You might consider investing in this type of jacket if you want a reliable rain jacket. Also, it works great for shoes, so you can wear them on rainy days without worrying about them getting ruined!