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widely-used application is for ostrich leather boots. Just about every bootmaker uses ostrich and the demand for ostrich boots is higher than for any other ostrich leather product. Belts are another major accessory that utilize ostrich leather; most ostrich boots are purchased with a matching ostrich belt. There are other uses for ostrich leather notably shoes, wallets and jackets. Handbags and jackets are the highest priced due to the sheer amount of leather used.
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the 1960s in search of ways to tan ostrich skin. "I will give anything to see ostrich skins used", said
Gerhard Olivier. With Hannes Louw, Jurgens Schoeman and the tanner Johan Wilken, he traveled abroad for the first time in search of people who could tan ostrich leather. Arnold and Dianne de Jager, founders of a tannery in London, offered to train a tanner for Klein Karoo, and in 1970, the first ostrich skin tannery opened there.
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198:, South Africa, saw great economic potential in harvesting ostrich feathers. Horse-drawn carriages made large, dramatic hats fashionable. Ostrich feathers are some of the most intricate and grandiose in the world so it only made sense to use them in this new rage. During this period of the late 19th and early 20th century, South African ostrich farmers made a fortune.
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and is put through more than 30 stages related to this. Per unit it is comparable to goat and sheep skins and the range of equipment used is about the same. For this reason, the smaller units, smaller batches, subsequent longer tanning times and skills, increase the cost, elevating it to a luxury product.
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Chemical measurements must be precise to avoid mistakes and waste to produce a beautiful, finished skin. Skins are tagged, production takes time and quality standards are high. Lime is added, removed and redone after days of processing and expert clipping prevents skins from tangling with each other.
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enjoyed by South Africa and the KKLK. It also ended the
Mahlers' monopoly in the United States. More suppliers began to open up in the US and, with fewer trade restrictions, they were able to supply ostrich leather at lower prices. There are several ostrich ranches and tanneries in the US, but with a
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Like other exotic skins, ostrich is a small-area skin compared to bovine and horse hides, and is ranked by the follicles per area since they thin out further away from the neck. It is processed consequently in a more particular way to preserve the largest possible area for processing and treatments,
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was built near the abattoir. Prior to this, there was very little known about the tanning process of ostrich skin. Most likely, ostrich skins were sent from the abattoir to tanneries in
England and then sold to fashion houses. It appears that a group of South African entrepreneurs set out earlier in
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Scars and blemishes currently form the basis for grading with further penalties for poorly developed follicles and skins deemed too small. Definitions of acceptable follicle size and style are vague and often simply a subjective opinion of the tanner or buyer. A defect can be such things as a hole,
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Because it is expensive to manufacture all three processes, countries that produce ostrich skins on a smaller scale, export them at the "raw" and "crust" stages. South Africa is an important processor of finished skins for the main leather manufacturers in Japan. Other
African countries engaged in
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Traditionally, fashion has driven the demand for ostrich leather. Fashion houses successfully used ostrich leather in handbags for many years. Most designer brands have at least one purse made with ostrich leather. Footwear is another way in which designers showcase the material. By far the most
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In 1993 apartheid in South Africa ended. This, combined with several droughts in Klein Karoo that crippled the ostrich industry, forced the South
African government to permit the exportation of ostrich stock. This allowed neighboring countries and the US to import and begin raising ostriches. It
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Ostrich leather was instantly popular in high fashion throughout Europe and the United States where it was used for cowboy boots. Notably, during the 1980s, demand was extremely high in the United States. During this period, apartheid and other political turmoil caused some countries, the United
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South
African tanneries receives about 200,000 skins a year from the ostrich abattoirs of the region and from elsewhere in the world it receives around 15, 000 skins. South African tanneries export around 90% of its finished leather to manufacturers in Europe and East Asia where it is made into
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The second, or crust stage involves 10 steps, with side trimming and finer cutting, dyeing and drying to produce "crust" leather product. This when it is measured, after drying. The third stage of "finishing" ostrich leather begins with conditioning to soften it, staking, and other applications
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where a feather grew. On the left and right side of the diamond shaped crown the skin is quite smooth. Only about a third of the whole skin has quill bumps. Since the crown is the most sought-after portion and since it constitutes such a small area of the skin, "full quill" ostrich products are
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industry is a heavy user of ostrich leather. Car seats, dashboards, motorcycle seats, and door panels can all be covered or accented with ostrich leather. Most after-market car and motorcycle shops can alter seats by applying ostrich leather as seat inserts. Many luxury car manufacturers offer
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The average size of a prepared ostrich skin which can be used with success in most applications is around 16 square feet (1.5 m). The size and thickness of the skin, as well as follicle development is influenced by maturity of development of the birds at the time of slaughter. This varies
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Ostrich leather is distinct in its appearance and is characterized by raised points that are localized to the center of the hide. The portion with these bumps is called the "crown". It is actually the back of the ostrich where the animal's neck meets its body. The bumps are
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and the drop in demand for the feathers for fashionable hats and military uniforms. Other products were marketed, with each success battered by world events and droughts until now, when ostrich skin is globally available and seen as a luxury item in high-end demand.
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began to mass-produce the automobile which made large stylish hats for women virtually obsolete. The onset of World War I shut down the ostrich feather industry. The same barons who had been making a fortune soon found themselves on the verge of poverty.
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becoming widespread during the 1970s. Demand peaked in the 1980s. Availability was artificially limited when ostrich leather was subject to a cartel monopoly through trade sanctions, and single export and distribution channels until the end of
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There were estimated to be just under 500,000 commercially bred ostriches in the world in 2003, with around 350,000 of these in South Africa. Ostrich leather is regarded as an exotic leather product alongside crocodile, snake, lizard,
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Pigmentation is bleached out of the skin, there is tanning and more tanning with mould prevention along the way. A well-finished hide necessarily receives high-quality colours and finishing dyes to industry and market standards.
241:. The ostrich leather purveyors, brothers John G. Mahler and Wilfred Mahler of Dallas, Texas, were the only importers of ostrich skin for many years. Just like the single channel KKLK, who had a virtual monopoly on the
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Different geographic regions have different demands for ostrich leather. For instance, Japan has an especially strong market for ladies' handbags while the southern United States has many consumers of ostrich boots.
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The production process is tabulated in three stages: raw, crust, and finished product. At the first stage, the raw materials are pre-soaked, then cleaned, fleshed and picked over several times, trimmed, weighed
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in 1993. After that and other factors, the South
African government began to export stock allowing other countries to have their own ranches. Although wider production resulted in competition and lower prices,
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region near
Oudtshoorn set up a cooperative of farmers and speculators ("KKLK") who would work together to rebuild the ostrich industry. Eventually the demand for ostrich meat locally grew to a point where an
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of the only viable ostrich skins, the
Mahlers were able to control not only prices but also who got skins in the United States and how many they were allowed. The Mahlers' control was so absolute that some
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ordered in an ostrich skin was $ 10,800. Although such items are expensive, people seek them out because they are simply beautiful and different. It is quite easy to recognize an ostrich handbag.
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considerably more expensive when compared to bovine leather. This, along with the fact that it is one of the strongest commercial leathers, leads ostrich leather to be seen as a luxury item.
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108:, forming bumps ranged across a smooth field in varying densities. It requires an intricate, specialised, and expensive production process making its aesthetic value costly.
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Ostrich leather began to be produced after ostrich farming was well established but after a tannery was set up onsite, it went on to make an impact in
European
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Over the next 50 years the entire industry bottomed out and maintained a minimal presence in the world. This status quo would not last, however. In 1945 the
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gloves, wallets, hand bags, shoes, luggage, upholstery and sports goods. The remaining 10% goes to South African manufacturers of the same range of items.
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scratch, loose scab, a healed wound or bacterial damage. The World Ostrich Association has a document with full definitions of defects for each grade.
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The premium strain of ostrich is the "African Black", which originated on the ranches of South Africa through various forms of selective breeding.
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was needed. In 1963/64 the world's first ostrich abattoir was erected in Klein Karoo by the KKLK to supply dried and fresh ostrich meat locally.
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has also popularized the use of ostrich skins, especially part of their runway collections. In 2006, the classic Louis Vuitton
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and other chromium salts; and so on, involving 15 steps the last being the "wet blue" product where it is wrung and set out.
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Klein Karoo Group is still considered the industry leader, and South Africa the centre of ostrich leather production.
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would be reprimanded by John if they sold his skins to other bootmakers. The arrangement has been compared to the
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Ostrich skins, like crocodile skins, are graded by the centimetre as they are sold in small measurements.
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among others. Ostrich skins are the largest in terms of volumes traded in the global exotic skins market.
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ostrich leather seats from the factory. This practice is especially popular in European countries.
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The World Ostrich Association also have a document entitled "Factors Influencing Skin Quality".
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The commercial farming of ostriches first began in the 1850s when pioneering farmers located in
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Designer handbags in ostrich leather are popular as many luxury designers such as
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have adopted new range of ostrich leather soccer boots launched during the 2010
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Grading is required to set producer payment as well as finished leather prices.
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841:"Ostrich Emporium SA, ostrich leather soccer boot for FIFA 2010 world cup"
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699:"Impacts of Ostrich Skin Quality on Leather Jackets–Gender, Age or Diet"
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604:"History of Ostriches in South Africa - Struthio Camelus (Camelbird)"
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Graded Crust: Tannery to pay farmer or buyer purchasing crust skins
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The marketing of ostrich skin started in 1969/1970 when a leather
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States included, to put pressure on South Africa in the form of
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making eleven steps, including grading, measuring and packing.
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American Exotics: Exotic Leather for Luxury Production Artists
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During the 2008 - 2010 ostrich leather started to be used for
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815:"Interview with Zach King, propietor of Seek Ostrich Goods"
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Ostrich leather has also made a name for itself within the
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670:"Alligator and Ostrich Skin – Intricate Tanning Processes"
330:. Botswana markets directly to South African tanneries.
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60. Profile on Ostrich leather and feather processing
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96:is the result of tanning skins taken from African
728:"Ostrich Green Skin and Finished Leather Grading"
53:, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a
111:Although the first commercial farming began in
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100:farmed for their feathers, skin and meat. The
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676:. Exotic-skin.com. 2009-06-07. Archived from
355:Graded Green: Tannery to pay farmer or trader
8:
637:The Ratite Encyclopedia: Ostrich, Emu, Rhea
463:. Well-known Mexican soccer brands such as
141:Group remains the leading global producer.
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73:Learn how and when to remove this message
639:. Ratite Records Inc. pp. 18, 168.
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16:Material created by tanning ostrich skin
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610:. Cilabi Ostrich Ranch. Archived from
362:Note: 1 and 2 use the same standards.
115:in 1850, the industry collapsed after
7:
34:contains text that is written in a
757:"Factors Influencing Skin Quality"
451:Aside from fashion designers, the
358:Graded Green: Trader to pay farmer
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349:Finished Skins: Tannery for buyer
293:depending on production methods.
1205:Artificial leather / Leatherette
23:
1271:British Museum leather dressing
817:. June 29, 2007. Archived from
709:from the original on 2018-06-21
1:
262:effectively ended the strong
847:. 2010-03-16. Archived from
763:. 2004-01-01. Archived from
734:. 2006-09-01. Archived from
506:. 2016-08-08. Archived from
500:"Why Fur Is Back in Fashion"
318:ostrich skin processing are
1266:Leather Archives and Museum
579:"Ostritches and Oudtshoorn"
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635:Drenowatz, Claire (1995).
1287:History of hide materials
874:The Herald (South Africa)
790:World Ostrich Association
761:World Ostrich Association
732:World Ostrich Association
608:Information on Ostriches
1256:Igualada Leather Museum
207:Klein Karoo cooperative
1261:Walsall Leather Museum
448:Low Pro SB "Ostrich."
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1251:German Leather Museum
821:on September 16, 2017
432:Extended applications
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55:neutral point of view
786:"Industry Standards"
89:Bag «Classic» Braun.
47:promotional language
1318:1850s introductions
845:life-in-mexico.info
504:National Geographic
168:Tanned ostrich hide
160:General description
1292:Leather subculture
510:on August 10, 2016
422:Keepall 50 special
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129:cowboy boots
122:
113:South Africa
110:
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60:
45:by removing
41:Please help
33:
1198:Substitutes
1179:Bookbinding
980:Law leather
275:The leather
243:exportation
213:Klein Karoo
139:Klein Karoo
117:World War I
1312:Categories
1225:Ultrasuede
970:Corinthian
855:2010-03-26
800:2014-04-09
771:2014-04-09
742:2014-04-09
713:2018-04-21
684:2014-04-09
646:0964294028
618:2007-06-29
589:2014-04-09
564:2014-04-09
514:2020-01-23
487:References
453:automotive
297:Processing
269:head start
248:bootmakers
200:Henry Ford
196:Oudtshoorn
43:improve it
1328:Ostriches
1230:Alcantara
1220:Presstoff
1215:Naugahyde
1133:Processes
1068:Crocodile
1041:Alligator
1015:Shearling
825:April 18,
446:Nike Dunk
383:Kelly bag
267:150-year
178:follicles
134:apartheid
106:follicles
98:ostriches
1171:Crafting
1146:Deliming
1093:Kangaroo
1056:Calfskin
1010:Shagreen
960:Buckskin
707:Archived
475:See also
406:Smythson
328:Botswana
320:Zimbabwe
264:monopoly
254:diamond
218:abattoir
190:Feathers
1323:Leather
1297:Rawhide
1280:Related
1235:Clarino
1156:Tanning
1098:Ostrich
985:Morocco
975:Kidskin
965:Chamois
940:Aniline
926:Leather
703:mazqoty
338:Grading
324:Namibia
252:DeBeers
225:tannery
185:History
102:leather
1161:Oiling
1151:Bating
1141:Liming
1051:Cattle
1005:Russia
1000:Patent
995:Nubuck
955:Bonded
950:Boiled
945:Bicast
643:
438:street
402:Hermès
387:Hermès
306:using
256:cartel
232:Cartel
1210:Kirza
1118:Snake
1113:Sheep
1088:Horse
1061:Slunk
1046:Bison
1025:Suede
933:Types
558:(PDF)
551:(PDF)
465:Pirma
414:Gucci
398:Prada
175:quill
147:camel
1108:Seal
1083:Goat
1073:Deer
990:Napa
827:2019
641:ISBN
440:and
412:and
373:Uses
288:Size
1123:Yak
1103:Pig
1078:Eel
385:by
151:emu
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