Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify the critical physical properties of garment leather, the optimal sampling position on the hide, and the recommended number of hides required from one source to adequately describe selected physical properties relevant to garment manufacture.

Hides from deer of known origin were processed to finished garment leather and selected properties of the finished leather relevant to garment manufacture were measured. Variability in these properties across any one hide, and among hides from different animals was determined and was less than that reported for ovine leather and similar to that reported for woven textiles used in outerwear. The extension of deer leather exceeded that recommended for woven garment materials, and was greater than that observed on ovine leather. The location on a hide, and the number of hides to be sampled from each batch in order to obtain representative results were determined (near the backbone at approximately the fore leg position; and three, respectively).