Manufacture of Exotic Leather and Small Leather Goods from Ovine Stomach

Abstract

Leathers made from exotic skins or rare parts of animals have very good market value. The exotic leathers are usually preferred because of their patterns, naturally occurring marks and their unique structures. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of tanning the ovine stomach into novelty leather and leather products. The ovine stomach was converted into an exotic leather using oil tanning methodology, with goat oil as a tanning agent. The rumen and reticulum parts of the stomach were taken through pre-tanning, tanning and post-tanning operation. The resultant leather had a different grain from the ordinary leather. Then mechanical operations like drying, toggling and staking were done. Physical properties of the leathers were analyzed by determining their thickness, tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, flex endurance and ball burst extension test. The grain structure of the leathers was analyzed using a light microscope. The results of physical tests were poor compared to the grains of conventional leathers since the composition of raw outer coverings of animals and those of the stomach are different. The leather processed from this non-conventional source has been found suitable for manufacturing fancy small leather goods like coin purse, key holders, purses and wallets.

Unlocking the Potential of Tropical Fruit Waste to Develop a Biobased Material: An Environment-Friendly Approach

“…Although animal skin is no longer needed, millions of furry animals have their skin taken every year to make collars for coats, furry parts of hat tips, furry parts of bags and shoes, and even toys, key chains, https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2023.171 and decorative items. Skins from crocodiles, snakes, ostrich and fish are frequently used to make purses, shoes, jewellery for the fashion industry, automotive upholstery, and other items [3]. The market for leather goods was valued at USD 245 billion in 2022, and it is projected to increase significantly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 9.5% from 2023 to 2032 due to the growing demand for luxury leather clothing [4].…”