While leather can come from a wide range of animals, the pig provides a truly unique leather. Pigskin is special because – unlike other animal skins – it breathes through many tiny pores, which allowed the animal to keep the body cool in summer and comfortable in cold weather. Pigskin is also tough and durable, and, with some assistance from Wolverine Leathers, can be soft and beautiful.
We here at Wolverine Leathers have interpreted what we feel to be the key color stories for Fall 2020. These stories are grouped into four themes, and featured in our Horizon Nubuck.
Horizon is a silkee soft nubuck made on an eco friendly tannage free of minerals. Most akin to the skin. Silicone provides water resistance to this bio-degradable pigskin nubuck, and starting with organic wet white means the color range is clear and crisp, making it the perfect choice to feature our color story.
Production of women's and men's footwear for the high end, eco friendly market segments.
Shoes can be brushed off with a clean stiff bristle brush.
Better Leather...
To Protect the Planet.
More and more people are calling pigskin the "greener" leather. Even before hides enter the tanning drum, pigskin has significant environmental and sustainability benefits over cowhide.
It's the difference between cows and pigs, actually. Compared to pigs, cattle, by weight:
Finally, one cow (from birth to harvest) produces more methane than 450 pigs (from birth to harvest).
If you are building a truly sustainable platform, pigskin can play an important part in that initiative. Why consider a sustainability platform? For one, a 2017 Neilsen study, 66% of U.S. shoppers would pay a premium for brands that make sustainable product. And "green" leather means cleaner product. Nature says so.
How can sustainability fit into your brand identity? How should it? Consider Wolverine Worldwide Leathers Horizon collections of upper and lining leathers:
Choose to refuse more metals in footwear by selecting Horizon, our hypoallergenic, metal-free pigskin lining for your footwear. Made without chrome, aldehydes, salt, inorganic acids or vegetables, Horizon is RSL, REACH, ZDHC, and Blue Sign compliant.
To flow freely and fluidly – an ode to minimal and seamless design, practicality and enchantment. Clean lines, a soft touch, and lunar lights are paired with high performance articles with a soft hand. Offering complete serenity to a busy environment. Colors in this group are soft and rich, offering an everyday naturalness.
4 – 7 sf / skin
1.2 – 1.4mm
A wondrous wander through the woods, embracing autumn pops paired with somber color hits. Texture, florals and workwear are important to capture the essence of this story. Colors in this group are rich and pair well with pops of autumn brights.
4 – 7 sf / skin
1.2 – 1.4mm
Derived from the age of social media, make it yours! Mix and match to stand out from the crowd and create your own style. Colors in this group are bold and vibrant. Mixing and matching unexpected colors is an important part of capturing this style.
4 – 7 sf / skin
1.2 – 1.4mm
An intellectual approach to living, with a contemporary feel while being rooted in antiquity. Colors in this group are soft, with a modern feel. Shades of earth tones, shades of aqua and beige are important in this group.
4 – 7 sf / skin
1.2 – 1.4mm
Eco-Friendly Leather
A soft natural grain lining leather. Tanned without the usage of any metals, aldehydes, vegetable, salts, or inorganic acids with an average size of 12-16 sf. Details focus on the environnent without compromising wear-comfort for the customer.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Details focus on the environment without compromising wear-comfort for the customer. This lining was designed with Wolverine Leathers' Chrome-Free Nubuck "HORIZON" in mind. The leathers work together to create one of the most environmentally friendly leather package options for designers.
Average Skin: 16 sf, Aniline Finish, Semi-Shiny Leather, Full-Grain, Milled Character
0.6 - 0.8 mm
Eco-Friendly Leather
A medium soft finished lining with a natural gloss & silicone touch minimizing abrasion with the foot. Tanned without the usage of any metals, aldehydes, vegetable, salts, or inorganic acids with an average size of 8-10 sf.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Details focus on the environment without compromising wear-comfort for the customer. This lining was designed with Wolverine Leathers' Chrome-Free Nubuck "HORIZON" in mind. The leathers work together to create one of the most environmentally friendly leather package options for designers.
Average Skin: 9 sf, Pigment Finish, Semi-Shiny Luster, Corected Grain, Waxy Character
0.6 - 0.8 mm
Eco-Friendly Leather
A soft Suede lining leather. Tanned without the usage of any metals, aldehydes, vegetable, salts, or inorganic acids with an average size of 8-10 sf. Horizon Suede Lining has an elegant mild nap. Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Details focus on the environment without compromising wear-comfort for the customer. This lining was designed with Wolverine Leathers' Chrome-Free Nubuck "HORIZON" in mind. The leathers work together to create one of the most environmentally friendly leather package options for designers.
Average Skin: 9 sf, Buffed Finish, Dull Luster, Suede/Split Grain, Milled Character
0.6 - 0.8 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
A modern take on a classic corduroy, with a faint emboss of lines throughout the leather.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
A three dimensional raffia print on pigskin nubuck. This look will give your shoes texture and dimension.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
A quilt pattern on pigskin nubuck, bringing a fresh look to a pattern on leather.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
A small scale repeat pattern in a variety of geometric shapes.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
An intricate basket weave emboss with a small repeat, bringing texture to your product.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Casual, Sport, or Athleisure.
A faux perf effect that is actually an emboss. It is a great take on perf 's for fall silhouettes.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Men's and Women's Casual and Athleisure. Pairs well with Summer Nubuck WR.
A multidimensional snakeskin emboss on pigskin nubuck.
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Make your silhouettes spring. We've combined nubuck and spandex to create a new tool for your design palette. Imagine leather with up to 150% stretch recovery. That's Springbuck.
Springbuck combines a thin layer nubuck suede with stretchy spandex, directly in the tanning drum. The result is a composite material that is very elastic to ensure the restoring forces are retained without the leather being over-stretched. Not only does it prevent permanent expansion of leather due to movement and body heat, but it ensures that foot-hugging properties remain.
Looking to lighten a profile, upgrade a synthetic or spandex-only design? Springbuck is more than a stretch. It may be the design breakthrough you've been looking for.
Springbuck is a soft, stretchable nubuck leather that stretches up to 150% of its original size and returns back to its original condition without loss of shape. The stretch can be repeated up to 200 times without any structural changes.
A perfect choice for designers looking to replace synthetic spandex and increase aesthetic values with real leather. Suitable for gusset, gloving or slip-on construction.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush.
3 - 4.5 sf / skin
0.8 - 1.0 mm*
Pig Iron is designed to fuse to polyester and poly-blend footwear, creating an ultra lightweight leather and textile upper. Pig Iron delivers to the factory as a complete package with application directions included.
Specially treated leather with a micronic hot melt film layer that enable designers go for a "NO SEW" construction.
Suitable for No Sew construction under laminating conditions of 120˚C/50 kg/30 sec.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush.
4 - 7 sf / skin
0.8 - 1.0 mm
Summer Nubuck WR is our opening price point leather, built to last, available in a wide range of colors. For higher performance, please see Colorfast Summer Nubuck WR.
Medium Soft Nubuck with an elegant silkee touch and excellent writing effect made on small pig skins.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.2 - 1.4 mm
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Colorfast Summer Nubuck WR is one of our best selling leathers! Colorfast Summer Nubuck WR allows for saturated colors without the worry of color migration. Our classic leather elevated.
Medium Soft Nubuck with an elegant touch and excellent writing effect with high dry and wet crock properties.
Suitable for high end Men's, Women's, and Children's unlined shoes and can be rest assured for color bleeding on to the socks.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.2 - 1.4 mm
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Breathin' Brushed Nubuck WR is a refined and luxurious pigskin nubuck, softer than Breathin' Brushed. It has a rich nap and is suited for all casual/dress/outdoor/athletic footwear. Breathin' Brushed Nubuck WR was invented by Wolverine. Be sure you are buying the original!
Soft Nubuck with an elegant silkee touch and excellent writing effect made on small pig skins.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.0 - 1.2 mm
1.2 - 1.4 mm
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Breathin' Brushed WP is a refined and luxurious pigskin nubuck, softer than Shag. It has a rich nap suited for all casual, dress, outdoor, and athletic footwear. Breathin' Brushed WP was invented by Wolverine. Be sure you buy the original!
Soft Nubuck with an elegant touch and waterproof and oil resistance effect for outdoor Men's and Women's lined shoes.
Production of Women's and Men's lined footwear for the casual, sport, and athletic market segments.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.2 - 1.4 mm
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Weatherside WP is made to take you from the city streets to the trail without having to change footwear. Waterproof to keep you dry in wet conditions. Created by Wolverine in 1983.
Medium Soft Nubuck with an elegant touch and excellent writing effect with high dry and wet crock properties.
Suitable for high end Men's, Women's, and Children's unlined shoes and can be rest assured for color bleeding on to the socks.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.2 - 1.4 mm
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Snuggle is our softest and most luxurious nubuck with a nap that is almost like velvet. You will want to feature Snuggle in any lifestyle product that will make the red carpet.
Luxurious leather with excellent softness achieved using specially developed enzymes to break the collagen fibrils.
Snuggle is the most soft leather in the range of pig nubuck ideal of sneakers / Kids casuals.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.0 - 1.2 mm
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Colorfast Lush WR is built for the curious baby by utilizing color-migration resistance of the highest level without a rigid temper. Strict RSL compliance is met with this leather to ensure safety from even the most saturated of colors.
Medium Soft Nubuck with an elegant touch and excellent writing effect with high dry and wet crock properties.
Suitable for making high end Infant shoes where parents can be rest assured for color bleeding on to saliva.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.2 - 1.4 mm
Firewall is made for the dirtiest of jobs. A resistance list built for multiple industries, this is our most resistant leather available. Waterproof protection is available for Firewall. We can match colors for NASCAR, Grande Prix, or any team motorsport.
Nubuck treated with special polymers providing fire resistance and water resistance.
Suitable for robust industrial boots and riding boots.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.4 - 1.6 mm
Defender was created for the US Armed Services, but is available to everyone. Protective against many fluids, waterproof, and available in a wide range of colors. Also made in the USA.
Defender is a USA military approved waterproof pigskin nubuck for high breathability, water, oil, fungal resistant.
Production of Men's lined footwear for excellent protection of feet from extreme weather conditions.
Shoe is brushed off with a clean stiff dry bristle brush. If heavily soiled, wash with a mild soap, such as Woolite® and air dry.
4 - 7 sf / skin
1.4 - 1.6 mm