A castor kid is a Persian lambskin finished the same as a suede, and is used in making very soft, fine-appearing leather--like glove leather. The skin is of such a very light weight that it has to be “backed up” before being made into shoes.
Fancy leathers are used extensively for toppings of shoes having patent leather vamps. Facings are selected from fancy leathers to make the inside of a shoe attractive and to increase its wearing quality. Leathers of dull or glazed finish are used in typical shoe colors.
Miscellaneous kinds of kids are as follows:--
_A._ Kangaroo _B._ Buckskin _C._ Sheepskin _D._ Chamois _E._ Cordovan _F._ Splits _a._ Seal Grain _b._ Buff _c._ Oil Grain _d._ Satin Calf _G._ Enamel _H._ Sides
Kangaroo is the skin of the animal of that name.
Sheepskin is the skin of the familiar domestic sheep.
Chamois is the skin of the animal of that name and by courtesy the specially treated skins of certain domestic animals.
It is a simple matter to recognize a kid-skin among the various kinds of upper leather, because of its very light weight and pliability.
During the winter, leather, in drying, is apt to become frozen, especially where no well-equipped drying loft is provided. Such leather becomes weak and limp if thawed out too rapidly. In freezing, the water in the hides which have been hung up to dry is forced out and stretches apart the hide fiber. The wetter the hides, therefore, the more demoralized they will be by the frost. The treatment of rushing the frozen leather into a warm room is inadvisable; the best method is to allow the hides to hang as they were and to tightly close all openings to the outside air. In case this is impossible, it is best to place the leather in a heap, in a room where the temperature will not fall below the freezing point, and to cover it with a cloth. In case the leather rolls up, it should be moistened before the roll becomes greater than is customary; it will thus become firmer throughout. Some upper leather and especially sheepskins for lining purposes are aided by freezing, since the leather becomes white and plump and also is of a bright color, though the durability is somewhat lessened.
The popularity of white leather for shoes is increasing wonderfully. There is good reason for this. The modern white shoes have a stylish and fashionable appearance which has won the hearts of women of all ages and conditions, and when they want a thing, there is always alertness in supplying it. The new love for white shoes is interesting to trace. Years ago white leather for shoes was made principally from deerskins. But this leather, while attractive when new, would stretch soon after being worn, and take on a yellowish tinge. Besides, the price of such shoes was very high, and it is not surprising that they became supplanted by the cheaper, but attractive and useful, white canvas shoes, which became quick sellers during the season.