Something fishy going on in leather goods

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Leather products are usually made of cow or sheep skin due to their size and quality. Now, it turns out that humble fish skin can also be transformed into bags, belts, wallets, cell phone cases or key holders through the wonders of modern processing.

The skin of the red kakap, a carp, can be turned into many different products after it is tanned.

"Conventional leather, such as that made of cow or sheep skin, is common here. However, fish skin is a good alternative and its texture is almost similar to that of cow or sheep leather," said leather goods expert Bambang Suroto of Yogyakarta's leather, rubber and plastic center.

Besides kakap, the stingray's skin can also be transformed into various products, however, kakap skin is more beautiful, he added.

Like cow and sheep skin, fish skin has to be tanned, and the procedure used is similar.

"The only difference is the tanning agent," Bambang said.

After tanning, the skin can be given different colors, such as blue, green, gray or natural hues.

"The tanning process is not difficult either. I've tried it in the laboratory with my friends," said Bambang, who studied how to make leather products in Italy.

He said sewing fish leather was almost the same as sewing snake leather. However, since kakap skin is relatively narrow, usually about 50 centimeter long and 20 cm wide, at least two sheets of fish leather would be needed to create the desired product.

Fish skin, according to Bambang, can also be used in garments. However, it will largely depend on the designer's creativity, he added.

For instance, he said, fish skin could be used for the collar.

And fish skin can also be made into footwear.

"The design of the product, be it a key holder, bag or wallet, should complement the fish's skin pattern, otherwise it will ruin its beauty," Bambang said.

However, Bambang said not many people were using kakap skin products.

"According to our data, there's no company selling products made of kakap skin. Our center only does research, we're not doing business," he said. (R. Agus Bakti)