Popularity Of Leather On Fashion Scene

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 2

Popularity Of Leather On Fashion Scene

The value of leather as an attractive fashion material is becoming more and more widely recognised. Exciting new designs and colours are continually being produced—and 1967 promises to be a year in which an exceptionally large variety of eyecatching leather garments will be available on the fashion scene.

Recently, visitors i from many countries were able to see some of the finest products of Britain’s tanning industry on display at the Interleather Fair in London. The major impact of the new ranges undoubtedly lies! In the emphasis which the I tanners are placing on the Importance of colour. To sell shoes, more than one pair at a time, for! example, the retailer needs; to sell colour to his customers. British tanners are offering the most exciting ranges of colours to suit all tastes. But colour is not the only story. There is a tremendous variety of textures and; finishes—all in line with the major fashion trends. Shoe design has moved forward at a great pace during the last 12 months, and to keep in step the colours have moved away from the safe neutrals into brilliant and . showy shades. Young design-1 ers have been inspired by 1 these to produce new and eye-! catching styles to appeal toj the space age customer. Among the new colours are; a clear and flamboyant red, a brilliant ocean blue, a strong! tropic green, an exotic cerise and a clear yellow. They may be given the names of sparkling tropical islands, or have more evocative names such as pimento for a red or pistachio for a green, or apricot tan which has the blush of the ripe fruit. These are the colours reflected in many ranges and they are promoted particularly for the youngstyle summer footwear. This does not complete the

colour story. Side by side with these brilliant shades runs a theme of fragile pastel tones. These are at their best in soft, silky suedes or the new delicate coloured patents. Paler than sugar fondants, they are likely to be important where a total look of matching pastel-shade hosiery tapers into an elegant little shoe. I Apart from colour, the leathers shown were exciting in other ways. too. Spurred on by competition from the man-made fabrics, tanners have gone all out to produce fine leathers which have the quality of the natural hide as well as the easy-care properties of the man-made. With a world rise in the prices of the raw material, British tanners have also concentrated on . producing leathers with fashion appeal at reasonable cost. Keeping in step with fashion’s demand for the shiny look, Barrow, Hepburn and Gale have produced a range of coloured patents. These are true chrome taflned leathers, but they have an uncrushable and uncrackable patent finish. They will be important for simple summer pumps and sandals with a price tag to appeal to the young and gay. "Tiara," made by the Lancashire Tanning Company, is another leather which has an exciting sheen. In this finish the colours gleam with an anodised metallic shine. It is perfect for evening wear and also for trend-setting two-tone styles. As a complete contrast to this shiny look the suedes are softer, finer, more supple and velvety than ever. And yet with all their look of luxury they are practical, too, as they can be treated !with a waterstain and oil reipellent The matt look is also available in a grain leather from West Coast Tanneries. It is as soft and supple as the suede, and either type is the suggested choice for simple unlined footwear. With an eye on the young market, this tannery has also introduced a novelty popprint leather, in an all-over design of black on white or two tones of brown. Textured leathers with a naturally shrunk grain or print embossed surface show new designs. The large elephant and rhino grains are

on the way out and the trend today is for the small neat patterns. Martin and Bolton show a natural drawn grain hide called "Granelleto” which is soft and delicate. A natural shrunken grain by Litherland Tannery has a fine cobweb pattern which comes up in a two-tone effect. One of the most interesting leathers, called “Crazy Bird” by its producers, copies the quill marks of the ostrich on velour suede. This is available in a range of colours including raspberry, apricot and wafer. Finally, for the truly discriminating customer there is a superb new aniline calf with a highly glazed texture, called “nude calf.” Only the most perfect calf skins are chosen for this real luxury leather in which the natural markings of the skin are enhanced. It is the classic of the future in leather, as cashmere and vicuna are in their own fashion sphere. And, as with them, the colours are understated—there is a choice of four subtle shades from a pale satiny beige through to a rich copper tone. The photograph shows two of the latest designs in suede leather which is rain spot resistant and able to be dry-cleaned. Left: a trouser suit. The jacket is a feminine version of a reefer jacket and the bell-bottomed trousers ride on the hips. Right: the latest design in reefer jackets. Both outfits are of Sherwood green suede.