Buffalo Leather: What Is It?
Saddle leather, also known as buffalo leather, is made from the tanned hide of one of the 74 domestic buffalo species.

What Is the Origin of Buffalo Leather?

Asians were the first to domesticate buffalo more than 6,000 years ago. Nineteen percent of the 194 million domesticated buffalo that exist today are raised in Asia. Domesticated buffalo are utilized in India to produce more milk than cows do, and they are used to drive carts and ploughs. Buffalo hides are tanned at the conclusion of their working lives to make buffalo leather.

What’s the appearance of buffalo leather?
The grain of buffalo leather is more pronounced than that of bovine leather. It is available in a variety of hues and textures, distinguished by rich, deep tones which give it a striking appearance.

How Is Leather Made from Buffalo Skin?

Chrome tanning is the quickest tanning technique, taking only a few days to complete. But this approach uses hazardous chemicals and is bad for the environment. The production of MAHI English Saddle Leather is done in a four-week process that is completely chrome-free and far less harmful to the environment.

How Long Buffalo Leather Lasts?
Buffalo leather may last a lifetime with proper care, and as it ages, a deep patina that enhances its beauty will develop.

How durable is leather from buffalo?

Buffalo leather is incredibly robust and long-lasting because its epidermal layer is up to three times thicker than that of cow hide. Unlike cow skin, which is stretched during the tanning process, buffalo hides are thicker and more resilient to ripping. Buffalo leather with full grain is among the toughest leathers available.

1. Vegetable-tanned buffalo leather

Does Buffalo Leather Have a Good Grade?
Buffalo leather is robust and long-lasting, yet it is also supple and flexible. Full grain buffalo leather is premium leather that has a stunning look and is strong enough to last a lifetime of use.

Buffalo Hunter Leather: What Is It?

“Buffalo hunter leather” refers to items made of buffalo leather, typically bags, that have a deliberately distressed, matt appearance, an appearance intended to evoke traditional American leather work and the outdoors men of the wild frontier.

Water Buffalo Leather

Water buffalo leather comes from the hides of Asian Water Buffalo, primarily raised for agricultural work or dairy production. With 194 million domestic buffaloes globally, 97% being Asian Water Buffalo, this leather is widely sourced.

Genuine Buffalo Leather: A Misleading Term

“Genuine buffalo leather” is a marketing tactic that disguises low-quality leather. In reality, leather quality ranks as follows:

1. Full-grain leather: Unaltered, natural leather with original markings.
2. Top-grain leather: Processed to remove imperfections, weakening the leather.
3. Genuine leather (third layer): Thinnest and weakest, stamped and dyed to mimic top-grain.

Italian Buffalo Leather

Italy, renowned for exceptional leather craftsmanship, imports buffalo hides and transforms them into premium leather goods. The country produces over two-thirds of Europe’s leather.

Buffalo Embossed Leather

Embossed leather upgrades low-grade “genuine leather” through heat and pressure stamping. This process imposes exotic patterns (e.g., snake or crocodile) onto buffalo leather, enhancing its appearance.

Top Grain Buffalo Leather

Top grain buffalo leather is made from the strongest part of the buffalo hide, with imperfections sanded away for a uniform finish. Despite the sanding, it remains extremely durable due to the thickness of buffalo hide.

Buffalo Mix Leather
Buffalo mix leather, also known as buffalo split leather, uses the lower layer of the hide, coated for smoothness. It’s less durable but cheaper than full or top grain leather. This term may also describe bonded leather, made from glued scraps and polyurethane.

Pull-Up Buffalo Leather
Pull-up buffalo leather undergoes aniline dyeing and is finished with waxes and oils, making it soft. Its unique feature is the color lightening when stretched. It develops a distinct patina over time and resists dirt due to its high oil content.

Full Grain Buffalo Leather
Full grain buffalo leather is the highest quality leather, utilizing the hide’s top layer with natural imperfections intact. Buffalo hide’s exceptional thickness makes it one of the most durable leathers available.

Comparing Buffalo Leather to Other Types of Leather

Buffalo leather stands out for its exceptional strength, durability, and natural beauty. Here’s how it compares to other types of leather:

• Genuine Leather: A low-quality term describing split or bonded leather, lacking durability and natural beauty.
• Cowhide Motorcycle Leather: Buffalo leather is stronger, more flexible, and resistant to ripping and dust penetration.
• Sheep Leather: Thin and weak, suitable for lightweight items like book covers and gloves.
• Calf Leather (Calfskin): Soft and fine-grained, ideal for lightweight items like book binding and shoes, but less durable than buffalo leather.
• Cow Leather: Thinner, less durable, and accounting for 65% of global leather production.
• Lambskin Leather: Soft, finely grained, and fragile, prone to stains, and suited for high-end small leather goods.

Key Advantages of Buffalo Leather

• Thicker and stronger than cowhide
• More flexible and resistant to ripping
• Coarser grain, more durable, and attractive
• Suitable for heavy-duty items like saddles, motorcycle clothing, and bags

Overall, buffalo leather offers unparalleled strength, durability, and natural beauty, making it an excellent choice for items requiring hard work and longevity.

Xambille embodies the perfect blend of rugged sophistication and refined craftsmanship, specializing in premium buffalo leather goods that embody strength, durability, and timeless style. Inspired by the raw beauty of the natural world, Xambille’s expert artisans carefully craft each piece to showcase the unique characteristics of buffalo leather, resulting in exceptional products that only improve with age. From sturdy motorcycle gear to stylish accessories and robust luggage, Xambille’s commitment to quality, functionality, and aesthetic excellence ensures that every item tells a story of adventure, resilience, and uncompromising quality. Join the Xambille journey and experience the unbridled spirit of authentic buffalo leather.