
Through a meticulous processing procedure, cowhide finds its way into various products. This type of leather is less utilized in the clothing fashion industry but rather finds its niche in crafting handbags, shoes, home furnishings, and automotive interiors. Cowhide is also commonly employed in crafting premium footwear, belts, wallets, briefcases, and high-end leather bags.
Cowhide shares some similarities with goat and sheepskin. However, a discerning eye will notice certain disparities: Goat and sheepskin tend to be softer and more flexible than cowhide. Additionally, products made from goat and sheepskin tend to be lighter. Nevertheless, if you seek leather products with excellent thermal properties, cowhide reigns supreme.
Cowhide isn't just one of the oldest types of leather with a rich historical background, but it remains one of the most practical leathers to date. While it may not always appear as aesthetically pleasing or as soft and supple as most other types of leather, nor possess the same level of flexibility and elasticity, it boasts remarkable longevity, astonishing durability, and exceptional thermal insulation ensuring warmth at all times.
What is distressed leather?
Before delving into the concept of distressed leather, it's imperative to grasp the notion of full-grain leather. Full-grain leather refers to the raw hide, in this case, leather that hasn't been sanded, polished, or padded. In the realm of leathercraft, full-grain leather denotes genuine material, characterized by its softness, durability, and notably, the longevity of products crafted from it.
Alongside full-grain leather, distressed leather is also quite prevalent in the Vietnamese market today. This is material and products discarded during production or consumption, subsequently recovered by units purchasing fresh cowhide to be used as raw material for another manufacturing process.
Due to its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits, the trend of utilizing distressed leather is on the rise. Primarily, this type of material is applied to create products such as men's and women's leather wallets, leather handbags, leather shoes, leather belts, leather watches, etc.
Advantages of distressed leather
It's no coincidence that distressed leather is sought after and purchased by many. They possess numerous unique advantages that make them the perfect choice for customers, including:
- Cost-saving: Distressed leather comes in varying thicknesses, softness, and hardness. Moreover, the surface of the leather also comes in various styles, from embossed, dyed, painted, etc. Therefore, distressed leather can be utilized to produce various products such as leather wallets, leather handbags, leather shoes, leather belts, leather watches, etc.
- This type of leather material is also evaluated to be flexible, elastic, and highly durable. Therefore, products made from distressed leather are sure to be more widely accepted than those made from other synthetic materials.
- On the other hand, distressed leather is also very easy to clean. Users are not only provided with the criteria of long-term use but also do not have to worry about spending too much time and effort cleaning items made from distressed leather material.

If you've explored what distressed leather is along with its prominent advantages, you'll likely find it the most suitable material for crafting unique and distinctive handmade products. Plus, it helps you save a lot more compared to full-grain leather.
Criteria for selecting distressed leather
For the need to sell or purchase distressed leather for manufacturing into new products, distressed leather must meet the following criteria:
- Price: Products made from distressed leather typically have higher prices than those made from buffalo leather (approximately 20% - 30% higher). However, this is only a relative distinguishing criterion. There are cases where some stores may artificially inflate the price of inferior quality leather to profit from customers.
- Softness of leather: Items made from cowhide provide a better sense of softness and smoothness. Compared to buffalo leather, cowhide is thinner, softer, and more elastic. It's also softer and cooler than synthetic leathers. Anyone can touch and feel this characteristic of genuine cowhide.
- Differentiation through pore size: Cowhide pores are round, straight, not tightly packed, and evenly distributed. They are divided into 2 types, including waxed cowhide (smooth, smaller pores, but still visible upon close inspection) and grain cowhide (clear pores, rougher appearance, more pronounced pores). To rely on this criterion, you must be knowledgeable and experienced.
Reliable, high-quality distressed leather sellers
In Vietnam, distressed leather is sold in most provinces and cities nationwide. The increasing number of distressed leather sellers has created a diverse leather goods market as well as fierce competition among cowhide procurement points. Among them, the following 5 locations stand out:
1. Saigon Leather Co., Ltd
This is the number one distressed leather supplier in Vietnam. If you're considering starting a leather goods business to meet consumer shopping needs, contact the company using the following information:
2. Ngoc Quang Leather
This is a reputable supplier of genuine distressed leather scraps, 100% authentic. Consumers can find authentic leather products at Ngoc Quang, with a 12-month warranty and lifetime product maintenance when purchasing items at:
3. Sofatoanquoc.com
Another reputable distressed leather supplier known to many is the Sofatoanquoc.com showroom system. You can contact one of the two nearest branches for the best support:
In Hanoi:
In Ho Chi Minh City:
4. Leathercraft Tools
Apart from being a wholesale and retail supplier of distressed leather at competitive prices in the market, this place also attracts those interested in leathercraft business with free basic and advanced leathercraft courses. If you're interested, you can contact the shop using the following information:
5. Toan Phat Scrap Company
This company purchases scrap cowhide, distressed leather on-site at high prices. If you're concerned about finding a reputable address that ensures both quality and price, you can visit this address:
Considerations when purchasing scrap cowhide
In addition to seeking out reputable distressed leather suppliers, you should also take note of the following:
Firstly, customers should thoroughly research the origin, quality, durability, color, smell, etc., of the cowhide provided by the distressed leather supplier.
Secondly, it's advisable to compare prices of the desired items at various suppliers to select the most cost-effective product, avoiding purchasing items at inflated prices.
Thirdly, to choose the most suitable product and protect their rights when purchasing, customers should also focus on the quality of advisory and warranty services provided by distressed leather suppliers.
Conclusion
Hopefully, with the information shared above, you now understand what distressed leather is, how to choose a reputable distressed leather supplier to ensure quality while saving costs, and optimizing the leather product manufacturing process. Wishing you always make accurate choices on your career path.
Posted by: Nguyen Truong Le Van
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