(ST) – Leather bag industry, which originated as a handicraft,has recently flourished especially with the entry of new technologies in the processes of tanning and manufacturing. This development led to improve production, expand the process of disposal in markets, and create job opportunities and thus an increase in revenue.
Mohammad Abdullah, the owner of a workshop for manufacturing bags and shoes in the market,said that the use of new technologies contributes to giving a high quality product in terms of quantity and quality.
Mr. Abdullah added that 40 percent of his workshop’s production is exported to Jordan, Gulf States and Iran, pointing out that demand is growing on suitcases, especially modern technique bags that adopt the digital-lock and designs that prevent damage to objects placed inside the bag during the movement and travel for long distances.
“Leather products are durable and flexible material that is made of animal skins including cattle, cows and goats,”Mr. Abdullah added.
He pointed out that there are main kinds of tanned skins such as shoe insole leather, which is made of cattle thick skins. The upper layer of the shoe is made of calves and goats thin leather. About 80 percent of all tanned leather is used in footwear industry while coats, dresses and trousers are made of smooth leather that obtained from the inner layer of cow fur. Goat and sheepskins are characterized by softness, flexibility and resistance to water and warmth.
Footwear with neck, belts, gloves, handbags, the outer body of handballs, basketball and cricket is made of tanned leather.It is also used in manufacturing the furniture of cars, buses, planes and seats of cinemas and halls.
Leather industry workshops in al -Qaimariya still enjoy great interest locally and regionally. This industry is inherited from fathers and grandfathers. It is characterized by the experience and proficiency, particularly the industry of living rooms that exported to some Gulf Arab states.
Sh. Kh.