Leather is derived from the skins and hides of animals, reptiles, fish and birds. Skins go through many processes to become leather, including salting, cleaning to remove the hair and epidermis, tanning, bleaching, stuffing, coloring or dyeing, staking, and finishing. The many processes required explain the high cost of leather.

It should be noticed that leather varies greatly in uniformity and quality – not only from skin to skin but within one skin – and may have a noticeable odor.

Uses – The main applications of leather include apparel, upholstery, wall coverings, athletic gear (balls, gloves, and saddles), luggage, bags and accessories. Leather laminated to a porometric film and lining fabric is available for rain-repellent outwear. Another leather laminate product combined leather with a fabric backing containing spandex for shoes, gloves, and apparel with better fit and comfort. Product design is limited by the size of the skins; therefore, leather products usually have more seams as compared with other materials. Reconstituted leathers have been made by grinding up leather, mixing it with urethane and forming it into sheets. These products are uniform in thickness and quality and are unlimited in length and width.