Ostrich Skin

• Scientific name is struthio camelus
• PAL's ostrich skin is native to South Africa
• Ostrich skin is both farm-raised for the meat. The skin is a byproduct.
• CITES status is non-appendix
• The approximate size of these ostrich skins are:
• 17 sft total
• 10 sft of total full quill area
• 7 sft of partial and no-quill area
• 27" x 27" of center full quill area
• The approximate thickness of these ostrich skins are:
• 0.8/1.2 mm in the thinner, partial and no quill areas
• 1.4/1.8 mm in the meatier full quill areas
• PAL offers various grades of ostrich skin as available:
• Grade 1: no defects in the center full quill area, ideal for large handbags and luggage
• Grade 2: one defect or small cluster of defects affecting one quadrant of the full quill area, ideal for anything other than large handbags and luggage
• Grade 3: one defect or small cluster of defects affecting two quadrants of the full quill area, ideal for footwear, belts and small leather good
• Grade 4: one defect or small cluster of defects affecting three quadrants of the full quill area, ideal for belts and small leather goods
• The Wild West finish is an aniline leather that undergoes a suede process, removing the thin outer layer of the skin. The skin is burnished with wax to achieve a rough, dry feel. This gives an accentuated, rounded feel to the quill.