A Brief History of Stingray Leather

For centuries stingray leather has been appreciated for its many qualities including its strength, beauty and durability. Cultures as varied as ancient Japan, ancient Egypt and 18th century France all had artisans who worked to produce stingray leather items for the most affluent and stylish persons in their respective civilizations. Let’s take a quick back at stingray leather through the centuries.

Ancient Egypt

Artisans widely used stingray skin to create armor and other items in Ancient Egypt. Indeed, stingray leather has even been found in the tombs of ancient pharaohs beside their most treasured possessions. (The ancient Egyptians believe that they would need their worldly goods - including their slaves - in the afterlife.) Finally, the Egyptians believed that the mark left by the dorsal fin bone was a sign of good luck.

Ancient Japan

The Samurais of ancient Japan used stingray leather in the armor they wore. This made their armor virtually impenetrable to the weapons of the times. Plus, stingray leather had the very practical advantage of being lightweight when compared to metal and resistant to punctures, slashes and abrasions. Additionally, the infamously strong Katana sword that the Samurais used to dispatch their foes also had an element of stingray leather built around them.

18th Century France

During France of the 1800s French artisans fashioned stingray skin into sheaths, wing cases, snuff boxes, etc., which were exclusively used by royalty such as Louis XV. Later in the same century and English artisan named John Paul Cooper mass produced artifacts made from this leather including handbags, belts, etc.

Modern Times

Today, stingray leather is still highly coveted and appreciated for its durability and luxurious look. Methods of mass producing the leather have of course improved since the John Paul Cooper’s time but so too have people who have sought to flood the market with counterfeits. Our company is a legal importer of stingray leather and has applied for and received a Fish and Wildlife license so that we may legally import items made of this unique and beautiful leather. Be wary of other retailers who claim to sell authentic stingray leather goods.

In our modern age we sometimes believe that current trends are just that - current. We tend to believe that we discovered a great many items that indeed have a distinct lineage that goes back to our ancient ancestors. Stingray leather is one item that dispels this notion as you have read. Its beauty, strength and durability have been appreciated for centuries. So, the next time you purchase stingray leather goods such as a stingray wallet for men, remember how our forebears appreciated luxury every bit as much as we do today.

5 Facts Stingray Leather Goods

For centuries Stringray leather has been used by many civilizations to make items including furniture, sword handles, armor, shoe and purses. However, as ubiquitous as this durable leather been throughout history, we would wager that many people are unfamiliar with some basic information about Stringray leather and the products that can be made from it. Here is some information about the stingray that will help you truly appreciate this one-of-a-kind, exotic leather.

·         Stringray leather is coarse in texture: Unlike some kinds of exotic leather, stingray leather is slightly coarse to the touch. That is because it is comprised of small beads of calcium. These beads give it strength. In fact, so strong is Stringray leather that ancient warriors once used it to help fortify their armor against swords.

·         The scientific name for Stringray leather is shagreen: This word derived from the word chagrin which is French in origin. It means something that is rough in texture as is Stringray leather.

·         Many items can be and are made from Stringray leather: One of the many benefits of Stringray leather is that it can be and is used in a great many products from wallets to handbags to car upholstery to eyeglass cases, etc.

·         Stingrays are hunted for more than just their leather: Critics of people who harvest stingrays for their leather insist that the animal is largely wasted by hunters. This is not true. In some countries like Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia stingrays are harvested on farms so that their meat can be eaten by people. Thus, the locals in these communities respect the stingray for being able to sustain them.

·         There are two grads of stingray leather: Quality Stringray leather is pristine, flawless and free of flaws and defects. This is Grade 2. Grade 1 Stringray leather contains flaws and is of relatively low quality.

Hopefully, some of this information will help you to become a better informed consumer when it comes to purchasing exotic leathers in general and Stringray leather specifically. It may also help you to detect some of the low quality and counterfeit products that are on the market. In the meantime, make a gift of a Stringray handbag or a Stringray wallet for men to someone you love this season. We also have several other items on our site fashioned from this exotic and durable leather.

A Guide to Caring for Stingray Leather Products

Stringray leather is notoriously strong. This is because of the way it is structured in a cross hatch arrangement of the fibers within the leather. Moreover, the tiny bumps that are present on stingray leather are actually calcium scales. Thus, ordinary cow leather is relatively fragile in comparison. However, this is no reason to be careless with your stingray handbag, purses, shoes or other stingray leather goods. You will still want to care for them so that they last and are beautiful for many years to come. Here are some tips to take care of your stingray leather items which will help extend the life and beauty of your stingray products.

Removing Dirt: This can usually be done by simply using a slighly dampened cloth. If you have a particularly tough stain on your stingray product, you may wish to use a mild soap and some water. Just be sure not to use any harsh chemical or abrasives. You do not want to remove any of the color from your stingray leather products.

Storage of Stingray products: Do not store your stingray products with other leather products. As we have already noted, they are not the same. Doing this may cause them to stick together and to compromise their finish or require that you vigorously scrub them which we also discourage. Instead, wrap your stingray leather items in paper if you plan to store them for an extended time. Tissue paper is usually fine for this purpose. Finally, do not store your stingray products near direct heat, excessive moisture or sunlight.

Dusting: Because of its beaded surface, stingray leather tends to accumulate dust faster than other kinds of leather. This is no problem. Just use a soft bristle brush to gently rub away any surface dust. Just be sure that you use light touch.

How to dry your stingray product: You should try to keep your stingray product away from extremely moist conditions. However, if they become wet for any reason do not blow dry them. Let them sit on a piece of paper and dry naturally. Better yet, you may wish to use silicone based water repellants for exotic leathers on your items.

Now that you know how to take care of your stingray leather products we hope you will not be afraid of owning this resilient and versatile this leather. Find genuine leather products of stingray - not the cheap rip-offs - on our site.