Have you ever seen the cordovan leather and wondered why does it look so unique and distinguishable from other kinds of leather? That is because of the origin of such a type that this article will explore.
This article will tell you why cordovan leather shoes are the smartest investment you can make in your outlook. You will learn where does it come from and why is it a precious material and where exactly to pursue such a valuable material.
What Is Shell Cordovan?
Imagine yourself in the region of Cordoba in Spain, in the 7th century to be precise. If there is a time machine to take you to this place at this exact time you will the luckiest man who ever traveled through time.
This is the time when the handcraft of cordovan leather for shoes started. As you can imagine the leather is extracted from horse hindquarters.
You might now think why to get a shoes made out of cordovan leather, and what is so special about it that makes it unique to other types of leather, the upcoming section will be able to answer your questions.
Why Get Shell Cordovan Leather Shoes?
1- Amazing Durability
Thanks to smaller pores this leather has than the regular cowhide, it will prove higher durability yet give you this light soft color you're looking for. And because of these tiny pores, the shoe will absorb less and less water and moisturization. This does not say that it can be treated as fully waterproof as this would mean to take away a natural feature from that type of leather, but it means that it can bare an unexpected downpour.
This leather has another distinguishable feature that it does not form creases when bent, but it can make ripples instead. That of course adds to the durability of the shoes. So, don't worry about your cordovan shoes cracking or tearing.
2- Better Fit to Different Feet Shapes
As you might have noticed that some leather types fit some shoes shapes better than others as a result to the nature of that leather type. This is not the case with cordovan shoes. It will fit your feet shape perfectly as it is one of the leather types that are easy to form in different designs.
3- Rarity
Shell cordovan is only produced in certain regions and that what makes it hard to possess or sell, therefore it can rarely undergo the crafting processes. Except for shell cordovan, which is manufactured completely from the horse's shell (back), the great majority of leather skins including whole animals (think of cow leather).
Despite the fact that each horse produces significantly less leather than a cow would, because this region has the thickest leather, just one and a half shells are needed to construct a single pair of shoes.
In addition to being scarce, the shell cordovan tanning procedure can be laborious and intricate, requiring up to six months to complete. Because of the particular method required, fewer tanneries can create the massive amounts of products that can be produced using other types of leather.
4- Sleek Look
With the elastin and collagen, the horsehide has it is only natural to look that smooth and elegant. As a person who values a fine leather footwear you know that this smoothness also means resilience and high durability and wrinkle-free shoes for long years.
How Shell Cordovan Shoes Are Constructed
To ensure that your shoes are delivered the magnificent way they do, this leather undergoes a fine construction process that ADORSI ensures its quality every step of the way until it's delivered to you.
The Horween leather is entirely produced in America after it directly comes from France. Horsehide is transported on pallets, hand chopped, and only the back of the hide is used to create shell cordovan.
Before immersing the skins in pits with Horween's unique mixture of chestnut tree bark, quebracho tree bark, and chemicals to create the finished product, they utilize a chemical technique to remove the hair from the skins. Horsehides are equally tanned afterward by putting them in frames and moving them around a lot to stop the tannins from accumulating at the bottom.
Horsehides are immersed in the tanning solution for 30 days, after which they are shaved to reveal the outer shell. It then stays in a second, more severe soak of solution for a further month of tanning.
If tanning is not done gradually, the tannins will only affect the skin's exterior layers, leaving the interior layers unaffected. The leather must still go through four months of labor-intensive hand polishing, staining, and resting once tanning is complete before it can be considered finished.
Choosing Your Perfect Shell Cordovan Shoe Fit
As we have mentioned, it is considered as one of the finest leathers for a good reason, and this list of steps will help you to get your best fit out of this gorgeous leather type.
Pay Attention to the Size
For this step we highly recommend that you use FeetSizr, this is an application that tells you your exact size using AI measurement algorisms that work effectively and quickly when you scan each foot correctly to get your size.
Look for Highly Recommended Colors
Some of the common colors for this type are dark brown, cognac, navy blue, and burgundy. With proper care, they will never change, get paler, or faint over time.
Pick a Versatile Style
Cordovan shell shoes are known to be at their best regarding style in classic multipurpose pairs. They make a good investment as they will make an elegant, practical alternative to many of your shoes.
Getting Your Cordovan Shoes
A pair of shoes with such an origin is a good investment that you would like to make. Directly from Spain to your hands, you will own the best horse leather shoes that you can get. The size can be easily determined using the latest technology in the fashion world, FeetSizr. And the style is recommended to be classic with a suitable color for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where can I buy shell cordovan leather shoes?
Only specialty shoe stores as custom shoe stores like ADORSI can provide those with high quality in both design and finishing. You can check out our collection and make a purchase here.
2. Is shell cordovan the best leather?
It definitely has distinctive features that you need that might not be provided in other leather types. It is a durable kind of leather that does not form wrinkles when bent. Its relatively small pores make it less likely to absorb moisturization.
Finally, the nature of the leather itself and how when tanned the colors don't fade after a while and stay as smooth as day one is one of the best features of any kind of leather.
3. Does shell cordovan leather scratch easily?
Due to the construction processes, it undergoes and the nature of the leather itself, the answer will be no. However, if it is continually exposed to sharp edges and not properly kept, it will be likely that it would.
4. Is shell cordovan leather expensive?
Unlike many other types of leather cordovan shell isn't easily found, and even when found only a small portion of the leather is fit to undergo the construction process. The source of the leather also contributes to this as it only comes from domestically bred horses that die of natural causes.
The several stages of construction that require a high level of expertise also contribute to this. Plus, the fact that when done properly, it is a unique shoe that draws everyone's attention at the first sight. So, as a result, you may find it more expensive than other leather types, but it's a durable kind that will not require to be replaced regularly and can last for years.
