The early periods of human civilization saw the tanning method being used across many areas of the world. And with such usage emerged various new uses of the tanned animal hide, i.e. leather. The clever man found out that the piece of animal skin could be used other than clothing and footwear. For instance, a very helpful use discovered was that the water would stay cool and fresh in a bag made out of leather. Other items made from leather for common use were beds, carpets, tents, rugs, harnesses and armour.
The ancient Egypt civilization, the most developed civilization of that time, valued leather as an important item for trade. The Egyptians used leather as shields, belts, bags, cushion, harnesses, sandals and chairs and traded them. Some of the items among these are still used made from leather today.
Other civilizations to use leather as a raw material for different accessories were the Greek and Roman civilization. They made many new types of shoes and sandals out of leather. In the 18th century, the main material used to make capes and armour for battle was Leather. Shoemaking and tanning then became a successful profession among the Greek. Originally, tanning was a trade belonging to the cottage industry, but later it went on to be a full-time employment of the people, who spent hours processing leather and refining it to the best form. The Roman also created various products from leather. Hence, leather flourished in the roman and Greek civilization.
In the Middle Ages, the smartest nation to use leather in the best way was the Arabs. The Arabs produced different types of leather. The most famous of them called, “Genuine Morocco” which was created from beautiful goatskin from Morocco. Uses of leather for decorative art were discovered in Medieval England. Leather was used by the English people as a book covering and binding material. They made various kinds of boxes and containers, like dagger sheaths, sword cases, water bottles and box coverings. Since the standard form of transport used in those days was the horse, leather was utilized as the material to manufacture saddles and harnesses for the horses.
The methods which were used in the production of leather hardly changed when the 19th century came. Actually, over 200 years, the manufacturing process changed very little. But even the Industrial Revolution did not bring any change in tanning, which was and still is the most basic and the oldest methods in the field of leather. The art and craft of leather making developed with the introduction of science and technology. Nowadays, many products and accessories are manufactured from leather. The most common usage is in the field of clothing. Leather jackets, pants, waistcoats, coats, and shoes are the most famous. In accessories, leather bags and belts are the most manufactured products. Leather is also used to make seating in cars. The many innovations and technological changes, together with improved machinery continue to make leather a modern, successful industry.