Information page 1

Some information on leather & suede and their

characteristics

When we say "garments" , we refer to the final product that is a direct result of: practices and problems of

6 interlocking industries.

*Growers

*Abattoirs

*Tanneries

*Manufacturers

*Consumers and

*Cleaners.

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*GROWERS

*Conditions under which animals live:

*Feeding habits and food quality .

*Environmental conditions:

*Scarring from trees, fences, insect bites, fighting between animals, scarring from branding as well as from sheering .

*ABATTOIR'S

*Methods of slaughtering and methods of skinning

*TANNERIES

**Skiving cuts. - .Uneven splitting *Foul tanning methods *Dye stability - .

*Stretching of skin

*Faults and scars in the skin are covered up in the tanning process with waxes and powders

*MANUFACTURERS

*Manufacturers will choose skins on two bases. One is price and the other is feel.

*Cutting techniques .

*For the sake of fashion , at times, manufacturers combine materials that are incompatible in servicing. Such as a garment that has to be D/C but contains trimming that can only be washed.

*Due to lack of testing , some manufacturers use inappropriate threads that might shrink and pull the garment out of shape , and /or inappropriate adhesives that will creep to the surface of the garment . This process is accelerated during cleaning.