Ostrich leather is leather produced by tanning the skins of ostriches raised for their skin, meat and feathers. It is distinguished by a pattern of raised quill follicles, which create characteristic bumps across parts of the hide. National Geographic has described ostrich leather as supple, durable and distinctive.
Commercial ostrich farming developed in South Africa during the 19th century, and the country became a major centre of ostrich leather production. Ostrich leather is used in products including handbags, belts, cowboy boots, dress shoes, luggage and upholstery.
General description
Ostrich leather is distinguished by the prominent quill markings left by feather follicles. In industry grading systems, the central area of the hide containing these markings is known as the crown; it extends from the base of the neck between the wing folds and is divided into sections for grading purposes.
The quill pattern is one of the leather's principal identifying features, and published reviews also describe ostrich leather as durable, supple, and relatively high-price compared with other livestock leathers.
History Commercial ostrich farming developed in South Africa during the 19th century, initially for feather production. Oudtshoorn and the surrounding Klein Karoo became important centres of the industry, which expanded substantially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Demand for feathers declined sharply around the First World War, contributing to a major contraction in ostrich farming.
The industry began to recover after the establishment of the Klein Karoo Agricultural Cooperative in Oudtshoorn in 1945. An ostrich abattoir was established in the Klein Karoo during the 1960s, followed by a dedicated ostrich-leather tannery in 1970. These developments helped shift the industry toward meat and leather as well as feathers.
During the later 20th century, ostrich production in South Africa was regulated through a single-channel marketing system centred on the Klein Karoo cooperative. The industry was deregulated in 1993, allowing wider participation in ostrich production and processing and increasing competition from producers outside South Africa. Nevertheless, South Africa remained a major center of commercial ostrich production. In 2002, it produced about 350,000 slaughter ostriches out of a world total of about 500,000. The South African Black ostrich, developed through selection and crossbreeding, remains an important commercial breed.
Leather production
Processing Ostrich skins are processed through a series of chemical and mechanical stages before becoming finished leather. One industry profile divides production into three stages: wet-blue, crust and finishing. The wet-blue stage includes soaking, fleshing, liming and chrome tanning; the crust stage includes splitting, shaving, dyeing and drying; and the finishing stage includes conditioning, staking, buffing, coating, grading, measuring and packing.
Full processing requires specialized equipment and technical expertise, so producers without sufficient processing capacity may export raw or partly processed skins for finishing elsewhere. South Africa has historically been an important center for ostrich-leather processing and export.
Grading Ostrich skins are graded according to factors including skin size, visible defects and the condition of the quill area. The World Ostrich Association divides the crown into four quarters for grading and distinguishes grades according to the number, location and severity of defects. Defects may include holes, scars, scratches, wounds, loose scabs, bacterial damage and other damage to the grain surface.
Skin size and follicle development are also considered in grading. The World Ostrich Association groups skins by area and notes that acceptable size may vary according to buyer requirements, while poor curing, immature follicle development and damage can result in downgrading or rejection. It also publishes separate guidance on production and management factors that affect skin quality.
Uses
Ostrich leather is used in fashion and leather goods, including boots, shoes, handbags, wallets, belts and clothing. Its distinctive quill pattern, durability and suppleness have contributed to its use in high-value fashion products. Thinner hides may be used for garments, while thicker leather is used for products such as handbags, boots and belts.
Other applications include gloves, luggage, upholstery and sporting goods. Ostrich leather has also been used for vehicle and furniture upholstery, where its distinctive surface pattern is used as a decorative material.
References
External links
Klein Karoo Group