more suede questions

[Guest]

What is "roughout" suede? What about reverse calfskin?

[whittaker]

Roughout suede/leather, as I know it, is used for riding saddles. It is hard wearing, water and dirt resistant. It has a reasonably smooth surface.

I've also seen 16th and 17th century jerkins made of the same material in musea.

[manton]

Reverse calfskin is just calf with the flesh side, as opposed to the skin side, showing. This is probably the most common type of suede.