牛革とは？素材の特徴や種類、手入れの方法などを解説
There are various types of leather used in leather products, each with different names and characteristics.
Among them, cowhide is especially widely used in leather products.
To choose cowhide items that better suit your preferences and needs, it is important to understand the characteristics of different types of cowhide.
This article provides a detailed explanation of the characteristics of different types of cowhide, care methods, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
牛革は、なめしという方法で加工された牛の革のこと
牛 leather is cowhide processed using a method called tanning. The cowhide used comes from cattle consumed as meat, and it is characterized by a consistently stable production volume.
Therefore, among the various types of leather, cowhide is particularly abundant in circulation and is commonly used in leather products. The variety of items is also diverse, including bags, wallets, small accessories such as key cases and coin cases, leather shoes, and interior goods.
The production areas of cowhide vary, but it is said that especially high-quality cowhide is produced in Europe, such as Italy and France. The high-quality cowhide used in famous brand products is also sourced from Europe.
牛革の種類
牛革は、どのような牛の皮を使用しているのかによって種類が異なります。
Since each has different characteristics, the quality and suitable items vary depending on the type of cowhide.
Here, let's divide cowhide into 9 types and look at the characteristics of each.
Calfskin
カーフスキン is the hide of a calf within 6 months of birth, characterized by its fine texture and smooth feel.
Because it uses calfskin, it is soft and thin, and also has a delicacy that makes it prone to scratches.
Due to its high rarity, it is considered one of the most luxurious materials among cowhide leathers.
Hair Calf
Haircalf refers to a particularly high-quality and luxurious type of calfskin leather.
"Hair" refers to cowhide with hair still attached, and hair calf allows you to enjoy the moist and smooth texture unique to calfskin.
Due to the high rarity value of calfskin itself, hair calf is rarely found on the market.
Kip Skin
キップスキン is cowhide leather made from the skin of cows aged approximately 6 months to 2 years.
「Kip」 means the skin of a small animal, characterized by the fine and smooth texture of young calf leather.
Kip leather is considered the second highest quality cowhide after calfskin, and due to its stable supply, it is also widely used in many famous high-end brand products.
Steer Hide
Steerhide is cowhide made from the skins of male cattle that were castrated between 3 to 6 months of age and have matured for over two years.
It is widely supplied and distributed for cattle raised for consumption, making it one of the most standard types of cowhide.
Because it is a genuine leather material with excellent qualities such as uniform thickness, large surface area, and high durability, it is used in various leather products such as bags, wallets, business card holders, and jackets.
Cowhide
カウハイド is cowhide leather made from the skin of female cows that have given birth and are over 2 years old.
It is popular as a genuine leather material because it is both durable and soft.
It is stronger than calfskin and thinner than the hide of an adult bull, thus it is treated as cowhide with intermediate characteristics between the two.
Bullhide
ブルハイド is cowhide made from the skin of bulls that are over 3 years old and not castrated.
"Bull" means a male cow, characterized by its thickness, coarse fibers, and firm texture. Taking advantage of this strength, it is often used for shoe soles and industrial belts.
Also, uncastrated bulls tend to be aggressive, so it is not uncommon for males to fight each other. For this reason, some bullhides may have surface scratches.
Buffalo Leather
バッファローレザー is cowhide leather made from the skin of water buffalo, as the name suggests.
Buffalo live near water such as rivers and swamps, so unlike cowhide, they have the rare characteristic of being resistant to water.
Also, due to its high oil content, buffalo leather offers a deeper aging process compared to other cowhides, which is a unique characteristic of this material.
Split Leather
スプリットレザー is cowhide that has been split into two layers before processing, with the lower layer beneath the genuine leather layer being processed.
The lower layer of genuine leather is called split leather. Since split leather has low strength, it is necessary to enhance its durability using resin or polyurethane.
なお、スプリットレザーは床革を加工した牛革のため、合成皮革（合皮）ではありません。
Advantages of Cowhide Leather
What are the advantages of leather products made from cowhide? Here, we will look at the benefits of cowhide divided into four main points.
Highly durable
As an advantage of cowhide leather, it is highly durable.
Generally available cowhide leather has a smooth surface with uniform skin fiber structure, characterized by high durability.
It has high durability and is easy to process, making it suitable for various leather products.
A wide variety of processing options available
One of the advantages of cowhide is the wide variety of processing options available.
牛革はほかの革と比べて面積が大きいものが多く、強度や耐久性にも優れるため、加工のバリエーションが豊富です。
There are various types of leather products such as bags, wallets, shoes, and interior items, and cowhide is said to be such a versatile material that it can be used for most of them.
Therefore, cowhide is widely used not only in famous high-end brands but also in affordable, accessible products.
The wide variety of brands and item types makes it easier to choose items that better suit your needs and preferences, which is also an attractive feature.
Soft to the touch
The soft texture is also an advantage of cowhide leather.
Because bags and wallets are items you always have on hand, many people want to prioritize a pleasant texture.
The clingy texture when touching the surface of cowhide offers a comfort unique to genuine leather.
The more you use it, the more character it develops
牛革は、経年変化を楽しめるというメリットもあります。
By using it over the years, oils and other substances gradually soak into the leather, causing the color and texture to change.
The longer you use it, the deeper and more lustrous the color becomes, creating a one-of-a-kind original leather product in the world.
Even if it gets scratched, that will become part of its character. The more you use it, the more you will grow attached to it.
牛革のデメリット
牛革を使用した革製品には、水に弱いなどの性質から、いくつか注意すべき面もあります。
Here, we will explain the disadvantages of cowhide leather and also introduce points for choosing leather items that can cover these weaknesses.
Weak against water
This is not a disadvantage limited to cowhide leather, but genuine leather in general has the drawback of being vulnerable to water.
When it gets wet, the oil necessary for evaporation also evaporates, causing the fibers to become stiff.
If left wet, it may remain as a stain, or cause discoloration and deformation.
In particular, leather that has absorbed a large amount of moisture and become blistered is very difficult to restore to its original condition.
To prevent such troubles, it is recommended to apply a waterproof spray before using cowhide leather products.
First, test on an inconspicuous area to check whether it causes stains or discoloration.
なお、BONAVENTURAの革製品はナノガラスコーティングが施されているため、水にも強いという特徴があります。
Even if you are concerned about getting wet in the rain, you can use it with confidence.
For more details about BONAVENTURA's nano glass coating, please see the page below.
There may be cases of color fading
牛革は、経年変化に伴い、色落ちをするというデメリットがあります。
For those who want to continue using it for a long time while maintaining a like-new appearance, color fading may be seen as a disadvantage.
In that case, it is recommended to choose leather products that have been pre-treated to prevent aging changes.
The leather used by BONAVENTURA hardly experiences any color fading or discoloration.
It does not undergo aging changes and allows you to enjoy beautiful and vivid colors for a long time, making it recommended for those who want to use it while maintaining a like-new appearance.
Cannot make the same thing again
牛革 has the disadvantage that it is impossible to produce exactly the same item twice.
Because cowhide is used instead of synthetic materials, each piece has unique characteristics such as the way it scratches and its fine texture.
Therefore, it is not possible to produce exactly the same product.
Even if you want the same leather item that your friends or acquaintances have and purchase it, it is difficult to obtain a product with exactly the same texture.
Please note that BONAVENTURA products are carefully handcrafted one by one by skilled leather artisans at factories with polished and reliable craftsmanship.
If you want to own high-quality leather goods just for yourself, you can choose items that will satisfy you.
For more details about the leather and craftsmanship used by BONAVENTURA, please see the page below.
The initial use is stiff
牛革には、加工時のなめし方法や革の厚さによって、使い始めは硬くて使いにくい場合があるというデメリットがあります。
There are various types of tanning methods, but cowhide processed using the "tannin tanning" method in particular results in a firmer finish.
On the other hand, the method called "chrome tanning" results in a softer finish.
All of our cowhide leather products naturally become more supple and fit comfortably in your hand with use, but some items may initially feel stiff, so for certain products, you may need to accept this and start using them as they are.
Please note that the shrink leather used in BONAVENTURA products is characterized by a soft, plump, and supple texture right from the start of use.
You can enjoy a high-quality texture that makes you want to keep touching it, right from the moment of purchase.
BONAVENTURA Recommended Cowhide Leather Items
For those looking for leather goods made from cowhide that can be used for a long time, we recommend BONAVENTURA's leather products, which use high-quality genuine leather from a prestigious, long-established tannery with over 150 years of history.
Here, we introduce four highly recommended cowhide leather items from BONAVENTURA's leather products.
iPhone Case
BONAVENTURA's iPhone cases are carefully designed using premium leather made by the world-renowned German tannery Perlinger.
We offer a wide variety of case shapes, leather types, and colors.
You can also use our customization service to create your own original case, such as engraving initials or anniversaries, or swapping the left and right designs for left-handed use.
Ladies' Bags
At BONAVENTURA, we offer not only handbags, tote bags, and shoulder bags but also trendy smartphone bags.
Among them, the especially recommended items are the Mia Tote Bag and Emma Bag, signature bags that symbolize BONAVENTURA.
Enjoy the luxurious feel of high-quality leather and the sophisticated design crafted with meticulous attention to detail.
Men's Bags
BONAVENTURA's men's bags combine a simple yet sophisticated design with meticulously refined functionality down to the finest details. We offer a wide range of high-quality leather bags that support a variety of styles, from casual occasions to formal business settings.
Please enjoy the reliable quality crafted by skilled leather artisans.
Wallet
BONAVENTURA wallets feature timeless designs that can be used unisex, along with a rich variety of colors.
Please find your favorite products from our extensive lineup.
All BONAVENTURA leather items come with a lifetime warranty, so you can enjoy using them for many years to come.
Once you discover the charm of cowhide, choosing leather goods becomes enjoyable
Cowhide leather is a highly durable material with a wide variety of processing options. Additionally, its pleasant texture and the ability to enjoy its aging process are also attractive features of cowhide leather.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages such as being weak to water and the possibility of color fading, but these drawbacks can be managed by paying attention when selecting items.
BONAVENTURA offers a variety of items characterized by a rich range of colors and sophisticated designs.
Why not find your favorite item from BONAVENTURA's official website?
