Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
Human leather, a UK-based company, claims to produce and sell products made from what the company states is “the finest leather known”—human skin.
Human skin, apparently, can produce the finest type of leather as it has a very small grain size, resulting in a very smooth and soft material. Claiming to use a traditional tanning process, the Human Leather company makes products such as belts, wallets, bracelets, and even shoes.
The back and abdomen area of a person, apparently, are the best sources of leather, as these “…have uninterrupted skin coverage, and are therefore the best for processing into Human Leather. These areas allow the maximum usage when being crafted into large coverage items, especially satchels and briefcases,” the company website states.
As for where they source their raw materials, the company claims to receive them from donors. They explain on the website that “…this is an expensive business, as the raw material is not cheap to produce or process. We value our donors and we reward their beneficiaries and next of kin very handsomely. In fact, we have had to turn away some potential donors, as we can accept only the highest quality human skin.”
As for the products, prices range from US$14,000 for a wallet to US$27,000 for a pair of shoes. As to why their products are so expensive, the company states that they “…cater to a small but highly discerning clientele. They are amongst those lucky few who have everything they could possibly desire. Our supply is restricted and we prefer to keep it that way as we are the only firm in the world that crafts these special products.”
Despite the high price range, the company has apparently been successful in selling out their products. The website states that since January 2011, they no longer accept orders for products, aside from bracelets. This is to ensure, according to the company, the “timely delivery” for existing orders. Hannibal Lecter would be proud.
