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Buying Leather, Hides and Skins

Leather and other hides and skins

Leather and hides are purchased in their exact form from the tannery. All Native People Leather usually sells such products by the side, hide, skin, split or belly. As the size of each side, hide, skin, split or belly varies, the size of your ordered product will vary. The actual size of these products is determined by measuring devices at the tannery.

How we price leather, hides and skins

All Native People Leather prices leather and other hides and skins using several different methods. Leather can be priced: 1) by the each or 2) by the side, hide, skin, split or belly. Generally, products priced by the each have one price regardless of the size of the product. Products priced by the side, hide, skin, split or belly are generally priced by the yard or square foot and therefore the price varies according to the size of the product.

Price by the each

Generally, products priced by the each are unit-based prices. In other words, you are charged one price regardless of size. For instance, the garment chamois (#928101) is priced $39.99. The average size of the chamois is six square feet but the size of each chamois may vary slightly. By entering the number "1" into the quantity field for the garment chamois, you will order 1 unit of the garment chamois and you will inter $39.99, plus shipping and taxes, if any.

Price by the belly, side, skin or split

The sizes of other products are more likely to vary which makes pricing them by the each impractical. Therefore, most leather products are sold by the belly, side, skin or split and are generally priced by the square foot. A few products, however, are priced by the yard (see Sheepwool Synthetic #926100) or meter (see Python Skin #931401). When you place an order for products priced by the belly, side, skin or split, you will be given a cost approximation based on the average size of the product times the price per square foot. After our warehouse has picked your product, this cost approximation will be adjusted based on the actual size of the product (as measured by the tannery). Your final charges will be for the actual size of the product (as measured by the tannery), not the average.

Quantity and cost for products priced by the side, hide, skin, split or belly

When ordering products sold by the side, hide, skin, split or belly, you are ordering 1 side, hide, skin, split or belly of the product. You are not ordering 1 square foot, 1 yard or 1 meter of the product. When your order goes into the order form inter the approximate size of the belly, side, skin or split. For example, if you order 1 quantity for the Original Live Oak, 4-5 oz. (#902200), the quantity on your order form will read 23, as 23 square feet is the average size for this product. This is done because the price for such products is per square feet. Then list the price per square foot for your product, which for Original Live Oak is $5.99. The subtotal for such products will only be an approximation based upon the average size multiplied by the price per square foot. Therefore, for Original Live Oak, the quantity should be 23, the price should be $5.99 and the subtotal should be $137.77 (23 square feet x $5.99). This subtotal will be subsequently adjusted based on the actual size of your side, hide skin, split or belly (as measured by the tannery) and you will be charged according to this actual size.

Leathercraft terms

Buying leather can be much easier if you understand what the different types of leather are used for, how different leathers are tanned and how skins are sold. If you still have questions, please call us at 1.888.890.1611.

• Back – A side with the belly cut off, usually 15 – 18 sq. ft.
• Belly – The lower part of a side, usually 4 – 8 sq. ft.
• Kip – The skin of a large calf, usually 9 – 17 sq. ft.
• Split – This refers to the undersection of a piece of leather that has been split into two or more thicknesses. Splits are usually embossed with a design and finished or sueded.
• Suede Split – Leather that has been sanded to produce a nap.
• Grain – The epidermis or outer layer of animal skins.
• Full Grain – Leather that is just as it was when taken off the animal. Only the hair has been removed and the grain or epidermis is left on.

• Top Grain – Top grain leather has often been sanded to remove scars and then sprayed or pasted to "cover up" the work. Top grain is not the same as "Full Grain" leather.
• Thickness or Weight – Leather is usually measured in terms of ounces. One ounce equals 1/64^th of an inch thickness. Thus, a weight of 7 to 8 oz. means the leather is 7/64^th to 8/64^th of an inch thickness. In an effort to make leather a uniform thickness, wet hides are run through a splitting machine. However, each animal is different and there is always a slight thickness variation throughout the hide. This is why leathers are usually shown with a range of thickness, such as, 4 to 5 oz., 6 to 7 oz., etc.