Determining suitability of leather for garments

Garment leather produced from ovine skins is used to manufacture high quali ty and high cost products. Little is known about which physical properties of this leather affect the garment construction processes and which physica l properties are relevant to end-use performance. Test methods developed to assess suitability of woven materials for use in tailored garments were ap plied to lightweight garment leather from four breeds of sheep (male and fe male), but subjected to identical processing conditions. Specimens were cut from different locations and orientations on the skins. Location and orien tation had a more significant effect on properties than the biological fact ors of breed and sex. Tanners can use these methods to develop leather with characteristics suitable for garment manufacturing processes.