What is Fish Leather?
Fish leather is a type of leather made by tanning (preserving) fish skin.
Historically, fish leather was processed by indigenous people, such as the Ainu, to create garments and shoes. However, due to its tendency to decay and the difficulty of processing, it has been a very rare leather worldwide. In recent years, with the rise of environmental conservation activities such as SDGs, fish leather has gained attention for its low environmental impact. Fish leather is characterized by its beautiful scale patterns, which vary by fish species, and its lightweight nature, offering a unique appeal different from other types of leather.
0. Preparation
We receive discarded skins from our own seafood processing division, as well as from other companies, and perform the preparation work.
3. Tanning
Vegetable tannins are dissolved in water, and the skin is immersed in the solution, which allows the tanning (preservation process) to take place, transforming raw hide into leather. Once properly tanned, the leather is then dried.
1.Fleshing
The remaining excess flesh and fat on the skin are removed. This is done carefully to avoid creating any holes.
4. Dyeing
The dye is mixed and applied to the leather.
2. Degreasing
Using a drum, the oils and impurities that cause odors are thoroughly washed and removed at this stage.
5. Coating
The spray is applied thinly, followed by pressing, and this process is repeated to further enhance durability.
Features
01 Scent
We process the leather to preserve the natural texture of the fish, including the relief of the scales and the smoothness.
03 Texture
Fish leather does not have the typical fishy smell because the oils that cause odor are thoroughly removed during the processing stage.
05 Thickness
There are individual differences, but Red Sea Bream and Japanese Amberjack leather are generally around 0.6–0.7 mm thick. When using it for leathercraft, please layer or join pieces as needed depending on the item you wish to create.
02 Strength
In fact, fish leather has strength equal to or even greater than cowhide, provided the thickness is the same. The secret lies in its cross-hatch fiber structure, where the fibers are intricately interwoven, giving the leather its high durability.
04 Thin & Light
Fish leather is much thinner and therefore lighter compared to regular leather. At Ocean Leather, we create products that take full advantage of the thinness and lightness of fish leather.
06 Size
We classify our leather according to the following square sizes:
-
SS Size: 7–13 cm
-
S Size: 9–14 cm
-
M Size: 11–15 cm
-
L Size: 9–23 cm
-
LL Size: 11–30 cm
List of Fish Species
