ALASKA SALMON LEATHER™ PRODUCTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do Alaska Salmon Leather brand wallets have a “fishy” odor?
This is one of the more common questions we get. There is no “fishy” odor in Alaska Salmon Leather brand products. In our trade secret process, all of the fish oils have been properly removed from each skin. Additionally, our methods result in the characteristic leather scent we are all familiar with and enjoy.
2. What species of salmon do you use?
We typically use wild Alaska chum and sockeye salmon skins, but skins from other Alaska salmon species, such as king and coho, are also used from time to time.
3. How long does it take to make the leather?
Currently it takes several weeks of intense hand labor, using a 35 step process, to turn a single raw salmon skin into quality finished leather.
4. Where do you get the skins?
The skins are a byproduct of processing Alaska’s commercial salmon harvest into food for the world. Skins that otherwise would be discarded as waste are salvaged and recycled by the Alaska Salmon Leather Co. turning them into beautiful leather.
5. Is the leather strong, durable and long lasting?
Yes, using the unique formulas and methods that we developed over a 24 year period, the resulting leather is very tough, durable and long lasting. Even if our product gets wet, it will remain strong and not deteriorate. Look for “Alaska Salmon Leather” on the product so you know you are getting the real thing and not a substandard, poorly tanned leather that deteriorates after a few months of use or if it gets wet.
6. How do I take care of my Alaska Salmon Leather™ Product?
You don’t have to do anything special to your Alaska Salmon Leather™ product. No special conditioners or cleaners are needed as our leather products will remain in “like new” condition for years.
If you get your wallet wet, maybe in your washer, carefully remove the contents and allow the wallet to dry at room temperature. Do not stretch the leather. Never place the item near a heater, fire, or in direct sunlight to speed up the drying process. Heat will damage leather.
7. Why does the color of the actual product look different from the color shown on the website?
In most case, a color discrepancy arises because any photograph appears different across different media. Screens on phones, tablets, and computer monitors, will all display color differently. Also, people perceive colors differently. A leather product may appear to be teal one person and blue to another. We strive to ensure our colors are displayed as accurately as possible for our customers.
8. There appears to be a faint line running lengthwise on the side of the wallet. Do you stitch together pieces of leather to make Alaska Salmon Leather brand wallets?
No, we never use the second-rate method of piecing together our leather to make wallets. We only use whole skins or single pieces depending upon the item. The line you see on the side of the wallet is called the lateral line. All bony fish, including salmon, have this specialized row of distinctive scales that are located on the side of the salmon from the gill plate to the base of the tail. Holes in the scales are connected by canals to the central nervous system. Among other specialized functions, the lateral line can detect movement and vibrations that occur near the fish. For example, a salmon can detect a bear walking in the stream, even in silty water where fish cannot see danger.
9. Do you combine the highest quality leather with your Alaska Salmon Leather™ to make your products?
Yes, we only use full or top grain leather to combine with our leather. This is the strongest and most durable part of animal hide located just below the hair. It offers the best feel and exhibits long-lasting durability. Leather made from this part of the hide is called “full grain” leather. “Top grain” leather is the same as full grain except the top few millimeters have been buffed away to remove imperfections. Top/full grain leather is found in high-end leather upholstered furniture and leather goods. Do not confuse this with “bonded” or “reconstituted” leather, which some do not consider leather at all! Bonded leather is made by grinding leather scraps into fibers and mixing those fibers with natural rubber or a polyurethane binder. The resulting mixture is extruded onto cloth or paper backing and embossed with a leather-like texture. It is an inexpensive way to make “leather” goods that can appear to be quality leather, fooling the customer. It can be called “leather” because it contains leather fibers.