Fish skin - a new word in the fashion world

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

The peoples who inhabited the banks of the Amur - Nanais, Orochs, Nivkhs and Ulchis - have been engaged in fishing since ancient times. They created waste-free production: fish meat was used for food, fish oil for skin, fish scales for sewing clothes, shoes, and various household trifles. The Amurians perfectly mastered the art of dressing and using fish skin. Amazingly beautiful clothes made from this material became a vivid example of the culture of the Amur peoples, who even received the name "fish-skinned people".

Fish skin was processed by hand. First, the scales were removed from the fish, then they were carefully cleaned on both sides and washed several times in water, laid out on a smooth surface and left to dry for a day or two. Dry fish skin became very hard, in order to sew something from it, the skins had to be kneaded for several hours on a special machine with bone knives for processing the skin. The process was laborious and long, as a result of this artisanal dressing, fish skin was deprived of many valuable properties. Therefore, when such fabrics as satin, chintz, linen and silk became available, northern craftswomen stopped sewing clothes from this material.

But today we are seeing how the production of leather from fish scalesis experiencing a new round of popularity, and at a qualitatively different level. Fish skin has become as exclusive as crocodile or snake skin. World-famous fashion designers turned their attention to this amazing material. So, for example, Christian Dior began to produce shoes from salmon leather, which has an original pink color. Salmon skin is one of the most durable and strong among all types of fish skin. The designers of the Argentine company "Unisol", specializing in the production of shoes, have developed and produced unique sneakers. The main material for these sports shoes is the fish skin of the American shad, a representative of the herring family. But not only shoes are made from this material. Scottish company Skini has released a collection of swimwear made of salmon leather.

In general, the size of the fish skin is small, but this disadvantage is compensated by the unique pattern on its surface and rich colors. Therefore, most often the material is used for the production of small, but fashionable items: shoes, handbags, purses, gloves, belts, mobile phone cases and various jewelry.

But the skin of sharks and stingrays is used to sew diving suits and even use it to make furniture. The skin of these large fish is surprisingly strong. In general, fish skin is more wear-resistant and durable than the skin of any animals. This is due to the fact that the fibers in the fish skin are located very close to each other. In addition, only fish skin iswaterproof.

Another definite plus of fish skin is its environmental friendliness. To date, scientists have not found a single virus that would be transmitted from fish to humans. So it is impossible to catch any disease from fish skin, unlike the skin of pigs and cows.