Abstract

Fishskin can be made into an innovative and exotic leather, but it has yet to gain general acceptance. This paper traces the historical origins of fishskin leather before drawing attention to a period when its use became a necessity, only to fade once traditional leathers became available. To succeed as a new product fishskin leather must be presented in such a way that it provides a unique appeal to customers as an addition to traditional leathers. Fishskins have a characteristic appearance peculiar to each of the species. Some twenty species have so far been transformed into a viable leather material, and then marketed as accessories, shoes and clothing. The processes involved in tanning this relatively unknown leather, and the ways in which it is marketed are described. There are many features that make fishskin a desirable leather but in order for its products to become popular in the market-place, efforts will be needed to create manufacturer, retailer and customer demand.