The Pros and Cons of Camel Leather Apparel

Depending on where you’re from, camel leather may seem like an unusual, exotic choice of material. But there are a few reasons why you should consider this fine leather for your next purchase, be it a camelhide bag, boots, or belt. There are also a few potential reasons not to — like the occasional “funky” complaint. Here’s your guide to camelhide. 

Pros and Cons of Camel Leather

Camel is one of those “high-character” materials that are uncommon even when compared to other “exotic” leathers. While rare and unusual certainly describe camel leather, it is also extremely durable — more on that below — with a lovely grain, lovely patina, and soft temper.

Pros

• Durable, exquisite leather
• Unique look, nice texture, ages well, and has natural markings
• Sustainable
• Lightweight

Cons

• Limited supply
• Expensive
• Possibly smelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Camel Leather Durability

One of the biggest pros of camel leather is its durability. The toughness of an animal’s hide is largely determined by their environment, and camels live in some of the most extreme environments in the world. So it’s not too surprising that camel hide is tough, and you can use less of this excellent material to produce a durable products like wallets, boots, and handbags. It’s common to read that camel leather is durable and lightweight, not unlike calf leather.

The lightweight, strong nature of both calfskin and camel skin is due to the number of fibers per square centimeter of the hide. I’ve read reports of camel hide being anywhere from 3 times to 10 times as strong as cattle hide, with one UNESCO report saying 5 times as strong. 

Camel Leather Sustainability

The same UNESCO report claims that supporting the camel industry in arid environments has a positive effect when combating desertification. UNESCO states that camel farms,

will contribute combating desertification, assist with the recovery of desert ecosystems, and reduce freshwater consumption in the area.

However, a lot of what is sustainable or environmentally friendly in leather production is due to how the tannery handles tannage. One of the larger camel leather suppliers is the Al Khaznah Tannery in Abu Dhabi. They ethically source their hides, meaning the camels are raised for the food industry not specifically for leather. This way, the skin is a byproduct that’s making use of something that would be discarded. They also tan with a chrome-free process that leaves it chemical-free. Water from this process is recycled, and waste is composted.

There may be tanners that don’t use sustainable processes, so if you’re concerned about this check to see where the company sources their leather from.

[Learn more: Chrome tanning vs vegetable tanning – is one better?] 

Camel Leather Look and Feel

As camels are traditionally found in desert communities and used for transportation, food, and clothing, the camels may be up to 40 years old before they’re slaughtered. Like other hides from older animals, camel leather has unique stretch marks and scars if left in its natural state.

Most full grain camel leather has a pebble-like texture. Roughout camel can have a short nap. Camel leather is also known to develop a beautiful and unique patina with a nice “honeying” from UV exposure. 

Sources of Camelhide

Most camel leather comes from tanners in the Middle East, India, and Northern Africa. 

For example, the Al Khaznah Tannery in Abu Dhabi is a government-owned tannery specializing in camel hides. Khaznah Camel Leathers are sourced as a by-product of the meat industry like most modern leather.

An Italian tanner that specializes in veg-tanned leathers exclusively supplied leather for Viberg’s Camel leather boots. Far Horizon Traders, which specializes in camel leather bags, has sourced their leather from local manufacturer in the Thar Desert in India. 

[Learn more: The Pros and Cons of Kangaroo Leather]

Does Camel Leather Smell?

One common complaint about camel leather is the smell. There’s no shortage of reviews and comments on Reddit complaining about the stench of new camel leather. Whether that is from traditional tanning techniques or the nature of the hide is up for question — there are rumors that it’s sometimes tanned with feces. (That actually happens; check out the video above.)

One important note: I haven’t found any reviews of Viberg’s camel leather smelling, and at that price point, it seems likely people would complain about smelly boots. They source their leather from a tannery in Italy, where most of the “smelly” camel leather seems to have come from other sources. So there’s the possibility that the smell is a by-product of traditional tanning methods more something innate with the hide itself. 

Conclusion

Personally, I’m sold on camel leather. The pros are in line with my sensibilities: durability, nice patina, rugged look, lightweight, and sustainable. However, the cons make for a fairly large hurdle to jump over, with very few boots available for under $700, and the few bags I’ve found could be smelly. Heck, even a simple cardholder clocks in at $140, so you do have to wonder if it’s worth it. Still, I’ll be looking out for a pair of camel boots as soon as I find an aesthetic I like.