Far from being a sign of backwardness, craftsmanship is a hallmark of the country and a good example of how tradition can be maintained and renewed in our days. Therefore, we dedicate this article to quality leather goods, which you will quickly recognize during your trip through Morocco and which can provide you with magnificent gifts as souvenirs for you and your loved ones.
Leather Goods: Why They’re Called That
As it’s easy to guess, leather goods is a term that refers to Morocco. And it seems that the French were the first foreigners to associate leather work with this country: their leather craftsmen have been recognized for centuries as the most advanced, in any phase of their process, especially in tanning leather (chemical treatment to prevent it from rotting and achieve optimal texture and durability).
And there’s no better place than the Chouwara district of Fez to see in situ how these professionals continue to work in the same way as in the past, with the same artisanal processes and with natural raw materials as a base. In fact, Morocco’s long tradition of livestock and transhumance has been key to the development of this activity since time immemorial.
Different Types of Leather in Morocco
Different leather items can use skins from very different animals. But in Morocco, due to its Islamic tradition, certain animal skins, such as pig, are not used. However, there are others with a strong presence, as they come from species that are very numerous in the country and have very favorable characteristics for certain items.
Thus, lamb leather can be highlighted which, being from a very young sheep, its skin is especially soft and elastic, although also difficult to work with due to its fineness. Goat leather is also very common, which shares these characteristics of fineness and elasticity, but is more resistant. Other leathers that can be mentioned are those from cows and even dromedaries, although the latter is coarser and not as commonly used for refined items such as accessories.
In any case, you can find a wide variety of quality leather goods, both in clothing items (jackets) and accessories, the latter being the most common: wallets, purses, babouches, belts, etc. But we mustn’t forget certain home items, such as pouf covers.
Some Tips to Recognize It
Although it’s not easy for someone unfamiliar with the subject, the truth is that quality leather goods can be recognized with a bit of observation. One tip is to check its wrinkles: if slight folds are visible on the surface, they indicate the natural origin of the leather.
A small test of pressure or stretching will also be revealing: if after that it doesn’t return to its natural shape and there are signs that it might break, we’re dealing with synthetic leather which, despite its laboratory development, won’t be able to replicate the natural characteristics of quality leather goods.
However, by using senses other than sight, you can also recognize whether an item is of quality or not. The characteristic smell that natural leather gives off and the particular texture, slightly imperfect but profoundly pleasant, can only be recognized if you close your eyes well.
Lastly, it’s worth appealing to one more sense: common sense. Generally, handcrafted items in natural leather are more expensive than synthetic ones, so an excessively low price may reveal the artificial origin of said leather, especially in imitation clothing and items.
