Garments made from kangaroo leather are strong, lightweight and flexible.
Because of its low price compared to cow hide, kangaroo leather is a popular choice for clothing and accessory manufacturers. Kangaroo leather is used in a variety of items that include wallets, bags, boots, whips, motorbike protection gear, belts and gloves.
The widespread use of kangaroo leather for high-performance sporting products such as soccer boots, can be attributed to its displaying the powerhouse property trio of strength, low weight and flexibility.
Damage
Kangaroo leather boasts unique properties.
Kangaroo leather is a complex, interwoven, three-dimensional arrangement of fibers. It is for this reason that when kangaroo leather is thinly split, it keeps more of its original tensile strength than does cow hide. This allows manufacturers to use thinner leather on their products made from kangaroo.
Despite its strength, daily exposure to ultraviolet light or acid from sulfurous and nitrous pollutants in the air can damage kangaroo leather. Abrasion is also a common contributor to the leather's decay. These problems can be prevented by the application of a suitable lubricant.
Top Treatment
Thick waxy dressings are used on kangaroo leather since they allow the fibers to slide against each other, which prevents them breaking. Beeswax is particularly good as it is one of the least reactive compounds to natural fibers and air.
Avoid dressings which are liquid at room temperature because they evaporate too quickly and have a tendency to loosen the leather's fibers. Dressings which contain neat's-foot oil or tallow compounds should also be avoided. Wash leather which has been treated with either of these with warm water and a very mild soap.
Old Leather
Old kangaroo leather requires extra care.
To minimize further deterioration, do not wash old kangaroo leather. Instead, generously apply several coatings of dressing; allow each to dry naturally before you add another coating.
Because the process of oxidation will over many years leave the surface of the leather cracked, moved the leather as little as possible between coats. Saturate the leather with each coat, and wipe off any excess with a soft cloth. Once the kangaroo leather has been coated and dried, keep it away from excess heat, sunlight and dirt if possible.
New leather
A just purchased product made from kangaroo leather will be flexible and retain the oils added to it by the tannery. For this reason, new leather items should only need a light coating of high quality beeswax-based leather dressing about twice a year.
If the leather is subject to repeated soakings, allow the item to dry naturally and coat it with a suitable dressing. Similarly, leather that is subject to extreme heat and dust will need to be coated more regularly.
