What Kind Of Leather Is Cordovan

Welcome to worth the price a recurring series exploring some of menswear s most covetable and expensive products this week.

What kind of leather is cordovan.

Your first pair of nice shoes was probably a goodyear welted dress shoe or boot. For me it was wolverine 1000 mile boots others undoubtedly picked up allen edmonds park avenues whatever yours was it probably wasn t made from shell cordovan leather. Often called shell cordovan this leather is made from the shell a membrane on the part of the horse that goes over the fence last. Shell cordovan is a staple material of fine men s shoemaking but you may wonder what makes this kind of horse leather so special that it commands 500 or more per pair of shoes.

Shell cordovan or cordovan is a type of leather commonly used in high end shoemaking cordovan is an equine leather made from the fibrous flat connective tissue or shell beneath the hide on the rump of the horse. The history of shell cordovan. Firstly the name of this type of leather is derived from córdaba a city in spain and documented use of horse leather was in 17th century by the visigoths and eventually by the moors. It has developed something of a cult following and it is used in high end shoes boots belts wallets and watch straps.

From the outside shell cordovan looks quite similar to any other shoe leather smooth lustrous and richly colored in shades of burgundy brown and black. Genuine horween shell cordovan is an equine leather famous for its durability self polishing character breathability deep color smooth feel and bright luster. The leather derives its name from the city of cordoba spain where it was first produced by the visigoths in the seventh century and later also by the moors.