Ostrich Leather Demand Growth Accelerating

HOUSTON - May 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Ostrich leather continues to have the fastest growth rate of any exotic leather, according to Mike Kurkendahl, owner of Tejas Custom Boots and Houston’s leather expert.

“Exotic leather is, basically, leather that comes from the skins of animals that aren’t cows,” Kuykendahl said, “The two most popular in Houston are alligator and ostrich.  Ostrich leather goods are growing in demand.”

He believes there are three reasons for this. “Ostrich leather is very beautiful and very, very tough.  The pebbled nature of the skin comes from the feather follicles and gives a texture like no other.  Also, fashion trends have a great deal to do with demand, and you see ostrich being used a lot by major designers these days.”

The major reason behind the growth is economic, according to Kukendahl.  “Ostrich leather has been dropping in price steadily for the past 15 years.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  Until the mid 1990s, South African companies had a cartel that acted like a monopoly and kept production down and prices up.”

He says that production throughout the world has increased since the cartel lost power.  This should give the craftsman and consumer more choices in the future, but do not expect Ostrich leather ever to get close in cost to cow leather.

Kuykendahl said, “There is just not as much usable skin from the ostrich, especially since the follicle rich area is somewhat limited. And there are several orders of magnitude more cows in the world.”


About Tejas Custom Boots

Houston, Texas based Tejas Custom Boots (http://www.tejascustomboots.com/index.php) has been creating fine custom leather products since 1984.  Tejas Custom Boots has created footwear for President George H.W. Bush, among others.  The Company is dedicated to craftsmanship from design to manufacture.  Tejas Custom Boots offers a full line of handcrafted products including footwear, belts, briefcases, handbags, and accessories.   Tejas Custom Boots is member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and is active supporting the Arts and Education in Houston.