leather
Leather is made of animal skin. By the means of chemical treatment, mechanical processing and by preserving the natural fibre structure, leather receives specific new properties. A material may only be called leather if produced through tanning of animal skin while preserving the grown fibres in their natural interlocking.
While other leathermakers produce mainly grain leather, HELCOR exploits first-class european sourced split leather.
What exactly is split leather?
Bovine skin naturally is 5 to 10 mm strong, which is why the topgrain of the rawhide is separated from the rest. During this splitting operation, topgrain and drop split (reticular layer) are separated.
The lower layers of the skin have a minor inner cohesion, as density and mingling of the protein fibres decrease towards the flesh side. These layers are rough from both sides and are called split leather.
Split leather is a "faceless" leather. By means of a unique finishing technology HELCOR is able to create a face for the leather, a new surface. The breathable, water vapour- and air permeable polyurethane layer is thinner than 0,15 mm and may thoroughly be called "real leather".