Water Buffalo Leather
Much of my leather goods are made with Arif & Sons Water Buffalo Leather. The strength and quality is amazing. Here is some information from their website
Arif & Sons- A Legacy of Excellence
Arif & Sons, located in the heart of India, is renowned for crafting some of the finest Water Buffalo leathers on the market. Their dedication to quality and tradition has made them a standout among Indian tanneries, earning them a reputation for excellence. Each hide is meticulously hand-waxed to perfection, reflecting the artistry and care that goes into every step of the process. Using combination tanning techniques, the leather achieves unmatched strength and durability, ensuring it will last a lifetime. Arif & Sons employs world-renowned finishing methods that set their leather apart. Their pull-up leather offers a stunning vintage appeal, perfect for creating timeless pieces that bring history and style to life. When you choose Arif & Sons, you're not just selecting leather—you're embracing a tradition of craftsmanship that transforms raw material into art.
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), also called domestic water buffalo, Asian water buffalo and Asiatic water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also kept in Italy, the Balkans, Australia, North America, South America and some African countries. [1] Two extant types of water buffalo are recognized, based on morphological and behavioural criteria: the river buffalo of the Indian subcontinent and further west to the Balkans, Egypt and Italy; and the swamp buffalo from Assam in the west through Southeast Asia to the Yangtze Valley of China in the east . [1][2]
Around 26 million water buffaloes are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide, [36] They contribute 72 million tonnes of milk and three million tonnes of meat annually to world food, much of it in areas that are prone to nutritional imbalances. In India, river buffaloes are kept mainly for milk production and for transport, whereas swamp buffaloes are kept mainly for work and a small amount of milk. 187)
Water buffalo meat or carabeef (38) is a major source of export revenue for India, 139) The hides provide tough and useful leather. [40]
The world buffalo population is estimated at 185.29 million, spread in some 42 countries, of which 179.75 million (97%) are in Asia (Figure 1, FAO, 2008). India has 105.1 millions and they comprise approximately 56.7 percent of the total world buffalo population. During the last 10 years, the world buffalo population increased by approximately 1.49% annually, by 1.53% in India, 1.45% in Asia and 2.67% in the rest of the world.
REDUCES WASTE- LEATHER IS A NATURAL BY-PRODUCT
Modern leather manufacturing recycles over 270 million cow hides each year. These are a by-product of the food industry and without the leather industry transforming them into leather, over 7 million tonnes would go to landfill with huge environmental and biological impact. Leather makes a sustainable contribution to a society that needs to consume less, reuse more and recycle everything.
LONG LASTING- GOOD LEATHER AGES WELL AND LASTS
Well-made leather lasts a long time. Unlike most man-made or synthetic materials, leather gets better with age, acquiring a depth of patina and wear pattern that is individual to the user -much like a favourite pair of jeans.
As we mindfully look for ways to lower consumption, leather very much fits with the ethos of ‘buy less, buy better’. Investing in quality leather products is investing for the future.
Durability
Leather is a naturally durable item and can last for decades. So, the strength of the two types is almost similar but elasticity and durability differ. Buffalo leather is not stretched during its processing. It is rigid and tough and therefore can survive for more than a century.
Cowhide leather can stretch excessively but that doesn’t necessarily make it less strong, so it can survive many years as well. However, full-grain grants the advantage to buffalo leather to survive longer than cowhide leather.
Buffalo leather is appraised to be one of the most popular leathers and rightly so. Its thicker dermis maintains its stiffness and keep its shape intact for years. It protects the product from damage more effectively than cowhide leather. The presence of grain makes it much more durable.
As compared to other types, it is eco-friendly too as its tanning requires fewer chemicals resulting in fewer emissions. Similarly, you won’t feel any unpleasant odour of typical leather goods that makes it ideal for outwear. Finally, its different rich shades of brown are enough for a royal look and feel.
Buffalo leather is known for its exceptional durability and strength, making it a popular choice for a wide range of leather goods. The thickness of buffalo hides, coupled with their natural resistance to stretching during tanning. contributes to their robust nature. This durability makes buffalo leather suitable for items that experience heavy use and require long-term resilience.