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Patent Leather

Patent leather is leather material that has been coated to exude a shiny, high gloss appearance. Patent leather is made from tanning raw cattle hide then adding a plastic coating that gives it that high gloss finish. Seth Boyden invented the patent leather process in 1818 and commercial production began in 1819. Boyden originally used a linseed oil based lacquer to create the high gloss finish. A plastic coating is most typically used today because it is easier to do and cost less because it can be produced and bought in bulk.

Today, patent leather is used on footwear to make a lasting impression. Patent leather can be found in any color, as the leather itself was dyed after the tanning process. The high gloss sheen will eventually dissipate but the leather will remain softer than most leather items. Patent leather shoes are typically found on casual to dressy styled shoes such as:

  • Flats
  • High heels
  • Boots
  • Loafers
  • Dress shoes

A patent leather finish is also being used on exclusive, limited edition athletic shoes from Nike and other major shoe manufacturers. The patent leather makes the shoes appear to be dressier, although they are still not appropriate for certain occasions.