Is Brazilian cowhide rug is the best ?
Table of content:
- Intro
- Country of origin
- Difference of cowhides
- Pros and cons of different cowhides
- The takeaway
Hair on Cowhide has become more and more popular in the last decades, and it has only gotten more popular in the past 2-3 years the trend is still ongoing.
Why do people start paying attention to hair on cowhide?
Variety
More patterns of hides are now available. There used to be limited choices when it came to cowhide rugs, typically classic colors like black and white, brown and white, or plain colors. Thanks to crossbreeding, not only has the variety of colors and patterns expanded dramatically, but the textures and durability of the hides themselves have also improved. More benefits of crossbreeding are discussed here.
Choices
As the popularity and reputation of cowhide rugs grow, more companies indeed start to introduce cowhide into the market, and more options mean more competition. It is essential to know whom you should be buying from, where their cowhides are coming from, and whether you are being traded fairly. We will discuss this further later in this article.
The characteristics of cowhide
The transformative potential of cowhides in home decor cannot be overstated, and we've extensively covered this topic in our blog. For more inspiration and insights on how cowhides can enhance your living spaces, we invite you to explore the art of decorating with cowhide.
With all these points listed, like it or not, genuine cowhide is part of our modern life, an interior essential, and a must-have for luxury home decor.
Now let's talk about the various types of cowhides available and how to choose the right one for you.
When it comes to cowhides, Brazilian and Colombian varieties are often compared. However, the primary difference between the two lies in their country of origin, which influences the breeds and quality of the hides. While Brazilian cowhide may be more common due to the country's higher meat production, this does not necessarily mean that all Brazilian cowhides are of the best quality. Similarly, while Colombian cowhide is known for its tricolor pattern and soft, shiny hair, not all Colombian cowhides are of equal quality. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious when purchasing cowhide and to buy only from reputable sources to ensure that you get the best quality for your money.
Now, let us address a frequently asked question:
What is the difference between Brazilian and Colombian cowhide?
Honestly, it primarily boils down to the country of origin.
Each country has its unique weather, pasture, and breeds suited to those conditions.
You may often hear online retailers claim that Brazilian cowhide is the best or overall superior. However, this is not entirely true.
Compared to Colombia or Argentina, which are major competitors in the hair-on cowhide market, Brazil has the largest meat production, which in 2023 grew by 14% compared to 2022, according to Reuters.
We all know that all hair-on cowhides are recycled from the meat industry; more meat production means more hides.
When there are so many hides from the meat industry, there is increased production for hair-on cowhide and leather industries.
This encourages tanneries to produce more hides or motivates more businessmen to start tannery businesses.
Is Brazilian cowhide the best quality?
As the old saying goes: there are good apples and there are bad apples.
There are tanneries that know how to treat hides, using high-quality materials and high-tech machines to produce top-quality hides. However, there are also tanneries that cut corners just to profit, or small, startup tanneries that are new to the business and may not provide the same quality Brazilian cowhide as more established ones. So, the answer to the question is no, not all Brazilian cowhides are the best quality.
When it comes to choosing cowhides, be very careful who you purchase from, here is an article about how to buy cowhide online you will find helpful.
Colombia is famous for its tricolor cowhide, this special breed was introduced from Europe, and is a crossbreeding, of Colombian cattle.
When you encounter references to "European breed" or "European cowhide" on the internet, it typically means the cowhide was tanned in Colombia. This terminology points to the ancestry of Colombian cowhide, which was introduced approximately 400 years ago and is most commonly known as Colombian cowhide.
Many reputable Colombian tanneries, with a long history in the cowhide business, utilize top-quality raw materials to process their hides. The resulting cowhides are exceptionally soft, with shiny hair and a heavyweight feel.
Colombia is known for producing the majority of tricolor cowhides, though it also produces solid colors like brown, black, and gray in smaller quantities. Nature has blessed Colombia richly, making the tricolor cowhide one of the most beautiful and popular in the market. The variation in color patterns and shades offers multiple choices, although some are the same.
Now, to address the question: Does Brazil produce the best cowhide? Not necessarily.
Argentina is also one of the largest meat exporters. However, they primarily use their hides for finished leather products, known as wet blue, which are used in items such as leather shoes, leather sofas, and other leather fashion items.
India and Pakistan are also on the list of hair-on hide exporters. They excel in making leather jackets and leather bags, but when it comes to hair-on cowhide, commonly referred to as cowhide rugs, it is not their strongest offering.
The takeaway
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