Elephant leather is the toughest there is. I have many pairs of boots in all sorts of leather, everything from cow, elk, ostrich, alligator, and elephant. The elephant is by FAR the toughest thing out there. The boots finally went out of style before the leather wore out. They made elephant leather goods in the 80's and then stopped b/c of over hunting and such. But now if you look hard enough you can find it again.
As far as camel, I think it would be somewhere around cow. Just my $.02
Actually camel leather is very prevelant in North Africa. When I was in Tunusia I purchased several items made out of camel (although there were cheaper donkey alternatives). I find the camel quite different than what we might be used to. Its thin but seems to be very tough! I overloaded a camel bag on the way home and it stood up quite nicely. It's a little stiff (almost paper-like) however so I'm not sure if it would drape very well in a jacket.
I enjoy eating camel and have a little camel leather. In my opinion it's like many other leathers - it really depends on how it's prepared. What I have is on the thick side, but very soft and smooth. It's also a nice light yellowish tan color. I have a wooden saddle that would be used to ride camels and the cushion is made of camel leather. If on a jacket it would be a heavy weight.
My friend has a thingy (not sure what to call it) from Morocco made of camel leather that you unzip and put pillows in it or stuff it with other things and then sit on it. Kind of like a stool/ottoman. Anyway, we have beat on this thing, and it is incredibly durable hide. However, they treated it in camel urine, so make sure you don't go for that option!!!
maboot38 wrote: However, they treated it in camel urine, so make sure you don't go for that option!!!
Welcome to the world of vintage tanning That is a very old and tested way of tanning leather, and if this sounds gross, don't look up tanning on wikipedia ;-)
I didn't think a photo of a camel head at a butcher was offensive. After all, our leather does come from animals. That's the way most of the world see's their meat - on a hook.
Oh I know that is how tanning used to be done. Doesn't bother me at all! I even have some cowhide doublethick handmade moccasins from Maine that were tanned in deer urine. Darn things smell like the insides of a Taunton, but I love 'em anyway.
Oh, and Raider S, don't you know, we crazy western civilizations are special. We don't need to know where our meat comes from. In fact, I think they were changing science classes in Kansas to teach their students that it comes from the meat tree, just so nobody gets upset by the truth.
Imagine the most beautiful peach tree you ever saw, but instead of peaches, there are 10 oz filet mignons hanging from it, the branches are strip sirlion, the trunk is prime rib, the roots are flank steak, and the leaves are a delicious ground chuck.
maboot38 wrote:Imagine the most beautiful peach tree you ever saw, but instead of peaches, there are 10 oz filet mignons hanging from it, the branches are strip sirlion, the trunk is prime rib, the roots are flank steak, and the leaves are a delicious ground chuck.
! Sorry....could not resist! Have a great day! W>
