Pigskin leather can be found almost everywhere these days. This might surprise you but this leather is relatively new on the leather history; is only thanks to the last advances in technology in leather skinning that this leather has become available in enough quantity and quality to work for chrome tanning.
Pigskin is durable, flexible, light, supple, and inherently porous. Its inviting nature attracts wide ranges of dyes and colors, giving it a personal touch that has only boosted its popularity. Additionally, pigskin leather has the highest tensile rating of all leather apart from kangaroo, which basically means that you’re going to have to get pretty creative to break it.
Of course, pigs tend to be very aggressive animals. During their lifetime, those beasties loved to frolic in the mud, fight, squeal, and eat anything they could rub their snouts on. Suffice it to say, they have an attitude, and this attitude sticks with their hide long after they’ve ascended to piggy heaven. Pigskin leather tends to get a bit more scarred and scuffed than other types of leather, and while this can create pleasant natural patterns, it can occasionally make the leather rather ugly.
How to care for your pigskin leather Items
Cleaning
- First, you'll have to clean it, remember they have a porous nature that makes them absorb liquids very fast.
- Look for a cleaner that is compatible with your pigskin item.
- If your deal with suede pigskin leather then you'll have to stay away from commercial cleaners.
- Gently apply the cleaner in even strokes across your pigskin with a soft cloth or applicator pad. Do not rub in one place too much, as this may darken the leather and result in an uneven surface. Wipe each area of your pigskin in the same direction.
- Afterward, grab another clean applicator and apply cleaner again, this time wiping in an opposite direction than before.
- Repeat until you can no longer see any dirtiness.
- After, use a dry cloth to remove any excess leather cleaner, and allow the pigskin to dry naturally in a cool, indoors place away from sunlight and direct heat.
Conditioning
- You'll need to apply a good conditioner to restore the natural oils and minerals lost during the cleaning process.
- Try to stay away from silicon products on the pigskin.
- Test your conditioner in a discreet area before applying it in the whole item. as you did with the cleaner. (Remember always to do this before any treatment).
- f your leather conditioner works favorably, apply it to the pigskin leather in gentle strokes in the same direction, and then again in the opposite. This gives your pigskin greater receptivity to your leather cleaning and conditioning recipe.
- Afterward, buff the leather conditioner off and leave it in a cool, indoors location away from, uh, sunlight and direct heat.
