So you want to buy leather goods. You aren’t alone — it’s estimated that men’s leather shoes take up about 6% of the market share, and from 2009 to 2014, men’s luxury bags and small leather goods grew in sales from 24% to 40%. Men have always appreciated leather goods more than the stereotypes would let on — and that’s a good thing. Leather is long-lasting, and it’s something that you can be proud of owning. For that matter, men’s leather goods have a value that isn’t necessarily seen in other forms of men’s fashion. Leather can be considered an investment to a certain extent. And there are certainly many different categories in which a person can invest in this sector. There are Italian loafers, luxury bags, leather belts, and much more to think about. Even within the category of shoes, there are different types — exotic mens shoes are certainly on the rise, despite the narrowness of the exotic leather market. But, with leather being so in demand, there are certain things you should be aware of before taking the plunge and buying. Below, we’ll get into what people need to be aware of when buying leather goods — and what your options are.
Exotic Leather Is Harder To Find
Exotic mens shoes are certainly popular, and that popularity is growing. Men like to make a statement in fashion just as much as women do, and exotic leather certainly does set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Exotic leather can include stingray, crocodile, python, and ostrich leather — though there are virtually endless possibilities. But the issue with this leather is that it only takes up 1% of the globally-traded leathers. This means that they fall under the “other” category — certainly not impossible to find, but a bit more difficult and therefore expensive. As such, exotic mens shoes become more expensive than traditional leather shoes. There is also a market for counterfeit exotic mens shoes and counterfeit exotic leather in general. This means that if you want to buy these specific types of shoes, or that kind of leather in general, you should only buy from a trusted, reputable source. Don’t buy because it looks like a good deal, and don’t buy from the first source you encounter. Look over many before making the final call — you’ll be glad you did.
Different Goods Have Different Needs
Leather, at the end of the day, is a product made from animal skin. This means that while it’s long-lasting — leather shoes can accommodate tens of thousands of foot flexes — it also can experience wear and tear and needs to be carefully cared for. This could go doubly, in some cases, for exotic dress shoes, exotic belts, and exotic boots — some exotic leathers need a bit of extra care. In order to keep your shoes looking good, for example, you should rotate them every other day. This will give them time to spring back to normal after walking. You may also want to invest in shoe trees to keep your shoes literally in shape. Shoe trees can come in plastic or wood. While plastic shoe trees are more lightweight and easier to travel with, wooden shoe trees are ultimately better because they absorb moisture and odor.
Know What You Want Ahead Of Time
It can be easy to get caught up when buying leather. But this shouldn’t be an impulse buy; you need to evaluate your needs and who you’re buying from carefully. That way, you can avoid falling prey to a scam or overspending. Buy too much at once, and you could end up buying something that you won’t use or can’t properly care for. Think about what you want, and who you’re buying for — do you want shoes, or belts? Exotic leather, or traditional leather? The options are virtually endless, and you deserve the best.