Kudu Leather Guide: An Affordable, Unique Exotic Shoe Leather

One Of Our Favorite Leathers

Ah, Kudu Leather. One of the most unique leathers you can use for any leather project.

One that is sure to exude character and age beautifully, imprinting each story its owner experiences.

 

A robust, surprisingly supple, affordable and low-maintenance option for any casual shoe, Kudu leather will surely capture your heart.

What Is Kudu Leather?

Kudu Leather comes from the Greater Kudu. The Greater Kudu (commonly referred to as Antelope) is native to South Africa.

This is a wild animal, meaning that all hides come from hunting or culling. Compared to most exotic animals, the Kudu is in abundance in the wild and can often require regulation of its population to not overly disturb the environment.

A short haired animal with a natural color and white stripes, we use Kudu Leather for a variety of uses such as small leather goods, shoes, boots, upholstery and so on.

In Bespoke Shoemaking we often like to use a Kudu piece to grip and work with the threads we use for stitching and welting.

General Characteristics

The Kudu is a wild animal that has to evade predators and live in a harsh environment in Africa.

Each hide bears unique marks and scars that essentially tell the story of the animal.

It could be a lion, a rock, a sharp bush or another predator that scarred it and left a beautiful print on it.

This means it is quite a strong leather, however it is also surprisingly supple.

It doesn't require much maintenance as long as you keep it clean and brushed regularly.

It could be prone to some dryness but I have personally never encountered such a thing.

Kudu also comes in a Suede version which has a lovely luxurious and soft nap and makes a wonderful pair of shoes or boots.

What Types Of Kudu Leather Are There?

Depending on the tanning process and the desired result, there's a lot of options out there. Let's go through a few popular ones which you will encounter.

Of course, there are more variations out there, so keep that in mind.

1. Jamaica Kudu

This is an interesting type of Kudu Hide that the famous Charles F. Stead tannery in England produces.

It has an embossed unique pattern that blends with the scarring and a generally more glossy effect.

Please note that grained leather is rarely (if ever) found in the wild and all patterns are embossed. This does not lower the quality but it is good to know.

2. Waxy Kudu

Our new favorite is the Waxy Kudu.

It is very soft and it really brings out the natural characteristics of the hide.

Think of it as a form of smooth calf with a more buttery touch and less glossy finish.

A bit more rustic if you may.

We source the best Waxy Kudu Leather and collaborate with Enzo Bonafe to make the best boots and shoes you will find.

3. Naked Kudu

Going back to basics with a subtle, natural pull-up feel hide.

This one feels to us a bit between the previous two and it also has an aniline finish.

Excellent for boots such as Jumper Boots and Chukka Boots.

4. Reverse Kudu Suede

Suede leather is essentially the fleshy side of the hide and good suede is a joy to work with and touch.

Kudu in particular produces a soft, luxurious suede that is excellent for lightweight shoes.

It is also the only one that has little to no scarring marks.

We love it.

Where Can I Get Kudu Leather Shoes?

Did Kudu Leather pick your interest already?

Amazing! You can of course get your awesome new pair of shoes or boots via The Noble Shoe.

In particular, we offer a flexible Made To Order Program with some of the best shoemakers in Italy such as Enzo Bonafe and Paolo Scafora.

Simply contact us at info@thenobleshoe.com or take a look at our Made To Order Page!

If you love Kudu or want to learn more about it let us know in the comments or simply send us an email.