The 4 leather types from Schwartz & von Halen
Quality comes first at Schwartz & von Halen, which is why we handpick only the best leathers for our gloves. You'll find a wide range of leathers, linings, and features in our collection, so you can select the pair of gloves that’s right for you. To give you more insight into the types of leather we use, we've outlined the four types of leather we use and the corresponding gloves from the collection.
Napa leather: goat leather and sheepskin
Napa leather is named for where it was discovered: Napa, California (USA) in 1875 by a German tanner named Emanuel Manasse. Napa is a very common type of leather and perhaps the most well-known leather out there. Most of our gloves are made with Napa leather.
The Napa leather we use for our gloves comes from goats and sheep. Napa leather is famously soft, durable, and supple, so it's perfect for leather gloves. Just like deerskin, Napa leather is also very resistant to rain/snow and cold winds.
Gloves obviously need to keep your hands warm and dry, but they should be comfortable, too. Because Napa leather is a supple leather (just like deerskin), it moulds well to your hand for maximum comfort.
Leather gloves also need to able to breathe properly, and that's where Napa leather really shines. One of the reasons our Napa leather gloves are so popular is because the leather has an elegant, understated quality. It's the ideal starting point for beautiful gloves with a classic, timeless design.
The longer you wear your Napa leather gloves, the better the leather will look. Napa leather is strong and durable, so it lasts for years to come. Make sure you treat your leather gloves using our special leather gel to help extend their life.
Deerskin leather (American Deerskin)
Deerskin has a long history and is often associated with Native Americans, who traded with the leather. Its versatility means it’s still widely used today. Deerskin is currently the most exclusive, expensive leather featured in our collection.
Deerskin is silky soft, versatile and ultra durable. Deerskin is extra supple, so it lends itself perfectly to making strong, durable gloves. The more you wear it, the softer the leather becomes, and the more the glove begins to form to your hand. In contrast to traditional cowhide leather, deerskin breathes well, so you can say goodbye to sweaty hands.
Don't let the soft, supple nature of luxury deerskin fool you; it's also extremely strong. Deerskin gloves will keep your hands perfectly dry and warm in cold, rainy weather. Treat your deerskin gloves with our special leather gel and they will last for years.
Suede leather
Suede is a high-end, unique leather. The name comes from the French‘Gants de Suède’, which means‘Swedish gloves’. Suede is primarily produced from sheep and goats. Suede is also reverse leather: where sheepskin and goat leather are the outside of the leather, suede comes from the inside.
Because suede gloves are made from the inside of the leather, they have a wonderfully soft feel (the sheep's wool). That makes wearing suede gloves a true pleasure. Because they're soft inside and out, these gloves are well equipped to keep your hands warm during cold winter weather. Just like deerskin and Napa leather, suede also allows your hands to breathe well in the gloves. With a little love and the right care, our suede gloves will last for years.
Vegan leather
Vegan leather (faux leather) is increasingly popular in the fashion industry. Of course it's not real leather, but vegan leather does look similar to real leather. Just the same, vegan leather gloves are extremely water-repellent and the soft, warm lining will keep your hands toasty when the temperature drops.