Goat suede is a type of leather made from the hide of goats. It is a popular choice for clothing, footwear, and accessories due to its soft texture, durability, and versatility. In addition, goat suede is known for its fine grain, which gives it a smooth and luxurious appearance. It is also lightweight, making it an excellent choice for garments and accessories that require a supple and comfortable feel.
What is Goat Suede?
Goat Suede represents leather that is made from Goat Hides. Suede is made from animal skin’s inner surface, while full-grain leather is made from the outer side. The animal skin’s inner side is more flexible and is further processed to produce a velvety and soft texture.
Softer and silky suede is less durable and requires more maintenance. In addition, users need to brush away dirt from goat suede.
Goat suede advantages:
- Soft and luxurious texture
- Fine grain gives it a smooth and elegant appearance
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Versatile and easy to work with during the manufacturing process
- Affordable and widely available
- It can be dyed in a wide range of colors
- It has a unique and distinctive look
- Breathable and moisture-wicking, which can make it comfortable to wear in various temperatures
- Resists pilling, which can help it maintain its appearance over time
- It provides good insulation, making it suitable for use in various types of clothing and accessories.
Goat suede is commonly used in fashion because it is easy to dye, allowing for a wide range of colors and styles. It is also relatively affordable compared to other types of suede leather, such as lamb or calf suede. However, goat suede may not be as durable as different types of leather, and it is more prone to staining and water damage.
To maintain the quality of suede goat products, avoiding exposure to moisture, direct sunlight, and heat is essential. Proper cleaning and conditioning can also help extend goat suede items’ life.
Did you know that water can leave stains on the Suede? In that case, apply waterproof sprays directly on the suede at least once a year. If you use the suede item more often, increase the waterproof spray’s application frequency.
Is goat suede good quality?
Goat suede can be of good quality, depending on various factors such as the tanning process, the quality of the goat hide, and the manufacturing techniques used to create the final product. Generally, goat suede is considered a good quality leather due to its soft and luxurious texture, durability, and versatility.
One of the benefits of goat suede is its fine grain, which gives it a smooth and elegant appearance. This texture makes it popular for high-end fashion products such as clothing, footwear, and accessories. Additionally, goat suede is relatively lightweight, making it comfortable to wear and easy to work with during manufacturing.
Compared to other types of suede leather, goat suede is also affordable and widely available, which makes it accessible to a larger market. However, it is essential to note that goat suede may not be as durable as other types of leather, and it is more prone to staining and water damage. Nevertheless, proper care and maintenance can help extend goat suede products’ life.
Generally, goat suede can be a good quality leather choice, depending on the product and manufacturing process.
Is goat suede waterproof?
Goat suede is not waterproof, but it is water-resistant to some extent. The level of water resistance depends on various factors, such as the quality of the suede, the tanning process, and the finish applied to the leather.
Generally, suede leather is not as water-resistant as full-grain or top-grain leather because of its soft and porous nature. Like other types of suede, goat suede can absorb water and become stained or discolored. Additionally, exposure to water can cause the leather to stiffen and lose its texture and color.
Manufacturers may apply a finish or coating to the leather to make goat suede more water-resistant. This can include a wax, oil, or silicone-based treatment that helps repel water and prevent staining. However, it is essential to note that these treatments are not 100% effective and can wear off over time with regular use.
In summary, goat suede is not waterproof. Still, it can be water-resistant to some extent, depending on various factors, such as the quality of the suede, the tanning process, and the finish applied to the leather.
Goat suede vs. Cow suede
Differences between goat suede and cow suede:
Goat Suede:
- Softer and more supple than cow suede
- It has a finer grain and a smoother appearance
- More lightweight and comfortable to wear
- More flexible and easier to work with during the manufacturing process
- More breathable and moisture-wicking
- Typically more affordable than cow suede
- Less durable than cow suede and more prone to staining and water damage
- It can be dyed in a broader range of colors
- Often used in high-end fashion products such as clothing, footwear, and accessories.
Cow Suede:
- More durable and resistant to wear and tear than goat suede
- It has a coarser grain and a more rugged appearance
- Heavier and stiffer than goat suede
- Less breathable and moisture-wicking
- More expensive than goat suede
- Resistant to staining and water damage
- It provides more insulation and warmth than goat suede
- Often used in outdoor and workwear products such as jackets, boots, and gloves.
Goat Suede durability research
Several research types related to Goat Suede and goat leather have been published in Journal Engineering Research and Applications. Research for the last several years has shown that goat leather (goat suede) has more stretchiness and deformation tendency under stress than cow leather.
Goat Suede durability is much different for shoes and clothes and depends on how much clothing or footwear is worn and in what environment. The obtained grain crack loads are 23 kg for the Goat Suede shoes. The water vapor permeability value of the goat suede lining leather was 25.772 mg/cm2-hrs. Therefore, keeping goat suede shoes and clothes away from rain and water is significant. Goat Suede clothes’ durability can last several decades if the clothes are not in contact with water. Goat suede durability for shoes is up to 1-2 years (everyday walk).
In all research, we can see that goat leather is worse than cow leather (please read science research Comparative Study on Physical Properties of Different Types of Leather
)
Rub the product’s surfaces with water/ vinegar to smooth out spots of discoloration. If the shoes/ clothes get wet, lay them out in the sun for drying. Nonetheless, the ideal way to recover damaged suede is to seek professional help.
It might be heavy on your pocket, but it will ensure the best results and prolong the suede’s life.
Goat Suede is equally expensive as leather. However, the quality of Goat Suede quality is directly related to the skin’s health and will influence the price accordingly.
If you want to purchase Goat Suede, it is better to splurge on a higher-quality item. Less expensive suedes are usually made of split skins and likely rip or tear quickly.
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