Suede is a leather-like fabric with a soft texture that gives off a luxurious feel when touched. Additionally, its light weight makes it lightweight, breathable, and moisture absorbant; you can dye any color to suit your wardrobe; making suede ideal for shoes, boots, jackets, and bags alike. Typically light brown or gray in its natural state, various dying processes can alter it into blue, red, green yellow hues as well.
Suede is most often made from lamb skin, though other animal hides such as goat, deer, and pig can also be woven together for suede creation. Depending on which animal was used to make its hides for suede production, its finish will vary; for instance, using thicker hides from cows and deer will produce suede that has less of a soft fabric quality than thicker leather ones would do.
Suede manufacturing begins when an animal used for its hide is slaughtered and skinned, before drying and being subjected to various chemical treatments containing tannins which transform raw material into leather; without tannins, the hide would simply decompose over time. Next, the material is dressed with oils and salts which strengthen it further while softening its feel and making it stronger over time.
Before selling the suede fabric, it is covered with protective coatings and dyes to help shield it from harsh weather conditions and other forms of damage. While this doesn't make the fabric waterproof, it does help shield it against outside influences like harsh climate conditions or harsh chemicals that could harm its fibers.
While suede leather differs from other forms of leather in that it's not water-proof, this can pose issues when worn as clothing or accessories. As such, it's recommended to only wear suede clothing indoors or at times when environmental conditions won't present challenges to its integrity.
Suede may not be as hardy or long-wearing as leather, but it still stands up well to everyday use and wear and tear. Additionally, its flexible nature and pleasant wearability prolong its life span considerably. When working with suede, the key is taking your time and being careful. Pulling or cutting this delicate fabric with sharp objects is all too easy; using pins to sew can cause painful holes to appear in its material.
suede is an incredibly versatile fabric, capable of creating many different kinds of clothing and accessories. Due to its light, breathable, moisture-wicking characteristics and customizability, suede has quickly become one of the most beloved fabrics among designers and consumers alike - particularly during colder climates. Due to this fabric's popularity as a status symbol fueled by Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes," suede has now become part of our wardrobes everywhere from shoes, jackets, coats, and even bags in both women's and men's closets alike!