Need a Different Language?     Home » Frequently Asked Questions Log In |  Cart Contents  |  Checkout |  About Our Leathers What is Cabezon? Fish Leather Tanning About Our Products About Our Golf Gloves Our Advantages Carp and Perch Salmon F.A.Q. Proof of Odorlessness Technology For Sale Colors and Samples Colors - Standard Colors - Pastel Samples of Glazed Skins Samples of Suede Skins Types of Finishes Stocklot Pictures - Carp Salmon Pictures Color Matching Usage Ideas - Apparel Usage Ideas - Accessories Designer Tips Colors Video Categories Samplers -> Stocklots -> Factory Seconds Belts Golf Gloves Watch Bands -> View All Products Frequently Asked Questions 1. Where do you get the skins from? 2. Does it smell like fish? 3. Is the skin as strong as normal leather? 4. Can you keep the natural colour of the fish? 5. What is tanning? 6. How long does the tanning process take? 7. What is glazing? 8. How many people make fish leather? 9. How many species of fish do you use? 10. What can the leather be used for? 11. What other benefits are there for using fish to create leather? 1. Where do you get the skins from? From canning fisheries worldwide. The skins are collected as a cast off waste product from fish processing. 2. Does it smell like fish? No. The products are odorless like any other leather. 3. Is the skin as strong as normal leather? Fish leather is generally around the same strength as sheep skin. However shark leather is anywhere up to 6 times the strength of a standard land-based leather. 4. Can you keep the natural colour of the fish? Unfortunately 70 - 80% of fish colour is contained within the scales, which are removed in the tanning process. The result is a neutral coloured skin that is suitable for dying any colour. 5. What is tanning? Tanning is a process that changes the fibres of any skin, through use of a "tannin", into leather fibres. The skin changes occur both internally and externally. 6. How long does the tanning process take? Our tanning procedure takes us 6 weeks. This process includes fleshing, descaling, preserving, tanning, dying, drying, softening and refinishing. 7. What is glazing? Glazing is a specialised leather process to add a protectant to the outside surface of the leather to protect it from dirt, grease, grime, and excessive wear. It is a polymer resin that is sprayed onto the surface of the leather, allowed to dry, then plated down with heat and pressure to make the leather water-resistant, drycleanable scotch-guardable and washable. 8. How many people make fish leather? Many others have tried to make fish skins into leather, and few have succeeded. We have been able to take out fish oils, and substitute chemical oil, leaving no odor. 9. How many species of fish do you use? We have made leather products with 21 different species of fish, carp being the most popular, because it makes the largest patterns. 10. What can the leather be used for? Anything that a normal land based leather can be used for. Our leather has been used to make shoes, handbags, belts, hats, wallets and other apparel and accessory items. It has also been used for jewellery and book binding. 11. What other benefits are there for using fish to create leather? The benefits are both ecological and economical. By reusing these skins, we are recycling what would otherwise be thrown out. Fishkins are less of a pollutant than other leathers because only the scales need to be taken off. Information What's New? Currencies Payment Quantity Discounts Privacy Conditions of Use Shipping and Returns Spam and Solicitations Newsletter Signup Contact Us Refer a Friend Customer Survey Printable Catalog Site Map Cards We Accept Currencies US DollarEuroBritish PoundCanadian DollarAustralian Dollar Your Account Your Email Address Your Password Shopping Cart 0 items   Friday 12 March, 2010     934445 requests since Friday 20 May, 2005   Copyright © 2003 Oscommerce and CRE Loaded Team Site developed and maintained by Calgary Ecommerce Services