DEER SKIN

A tanner specializing in deerskin that I always use for my help, ``Fujioka Yukichi Main Store.''
Fujioka has a long history, being established over 130 years ago, and boasts such a large market share that people say, ``When it comes to deerskin, Fujioka comes to mind.''

On this day, I visited for the first time in several years to say hello and hear about the past, future, and other aspects of deerskin.
Our destination was not a factory in Nara that actually tanned leather, but an antenna shop in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo.

Many beautifully tanned deerskins are hung and displayed.
Even though the raw hide is the same, the finish varies depending on the tanning process and surface treatment.
At the moment, Head Factory does not have any plans to develop new products using deerskin, but when I see a good material in front of me, I get excited and fascinated.
There are a wide variety of leather materials in the world, and among them, deerskin is particularly unique, with an outstanding balance of supple elasticity and tear strength.
Its breathability is so good that it was even used as a fuel filter for aircraft during the war, and its silky surface feels gentle to the touch.It has been described as a leather-like cashmere.
By the way, since cashmere is described as a ``textile jewelry,'' you might think that deerskin could also be called a leather jewelry, but it turns out that what is described as a leather jewelry is the cordovan part of horsehide leather. It's confusing.
Another characteristic of deerskin, or rather due to the ecology of deer, is the large number of scratches on the surface.
It is very difficult to avoid all of these when making leather wear, so at Head Factory we place importance on the natural texture of the material, fiber density, and thickness, and forcefully avoid small scratches and stains on the surface. I haven't made any decisions.
As a result, there are often scratches and stains in some parts of the product, but we hope that you will understand that this is also a characteristic of deerskin.
There are two main types of leather surface treatments: pigment finishing and dye finishing.
Each has its pros and cons, and Head Factory currently uses deerskin with a dye finish.
This is because we want to deliver the high-quality texture that Fujioka Tanner finishes as is.

A jacket made from deerskin, which has these characteristics, has a gentle finish that you can wear without hesitation.
Please check out the unique feel of deerskin.
[Ichijima]