Leather (material)

Revision as of 13:49, 13 February 2009

Leatherware from Westward Bound

Leather is a material made by treating (tanning) the skin or hide of animals, usually cattle.

Leather is very strong, and may have a characteristic odour that some people like. Some, such as those into animal transformation fantasy, may like the fact that it is animal skin rather than artificial like PVC.

It is widely used for making shoes and boots, and also for making clothes. In a BDSM context, it is used for making various equipment including blindfolds, handcuffs, straps and whips. Leather clothing and other objects may be fetishes.

Rawhide

Leather that has not been fully tanned is called rawhide. Rawhide has the property that if soaked in water it can be stretched, and will then shrink as it dries out. It can thus be used to make bonds or corsets that keep tightening, or ropes that will eventually lift someone off the ground.

See also

• Leather for other contexts.
• Fetish Fashion