Exotic leathers such as crocodile, rattlesnake, and ostrich leather are becoming increasingly popular as people learn more about the ethics of the exotic leather industry. If you’re interested in unique boot leather, sea bass is another eye-catching option. Sea bass has become a popular boot leather for a variety of reasons. Here’s what you need to know about sea bass cowboy boots.
The Types of Fish Leather
There are a few different types of fish leather commonly used for boots and other fine leather goods. Sea bass, also known as perch, are fish native to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. They produce a soft leather that is, on average, one square foot in dimension.
Big bass leather is more common on the leather market than sea bass. Big bass is another name for the pirarucu. The pirarucu, also known as the arapaima, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world at over 2 meters long. Its leather is exceptionally soft and flexible, and the large skin gives exotic leather makers plenty of leather to work with. These traits make it easy to see why this fish is more common than the smaller sea bass when it comes to leatherwork.
Due to their distinctive look and feel, both sea and big bass leather are becoming increasingly popular choices for dress boots.
The Look of Bass Leather
Big bass leather comes in many different variations. Some commonly seen hues are golds, reds, blacks, and browns. This leather features the distinctive scales and patterns of the big bass fish.
Sea bass leather has a smaller, tighter scale pattern than big bass leather. It naturally appears in shades of brown and tan, though the leather can be dyed to create a more interesting look while still maintaining the texture of the scales.
Qualities of Bass Leather Boots
Bass leather is one of the softest leathers on the market. Interestingly, it stands out among other soft leathers, such as deerskin or calfskin, as a more durable option. It has a very distinct pattern and texture with an eye-catching scale pattern. Those who know exotic leathers can quickly tell bass leather apart from other types of scaled leathers, such as snake or crocodile.
How To Care for Bass Leather
As far as exotic leathers go, fish leather care is relatively simple. You’ll need a clean, dry cloth and a soft-bristled brush to clean your boots. Brush off any dust or dirt with the cloth. Be sure to brush in the direction of the scales—brushing in the opposite direction can lift the scales or even detach them.
Use the soft brush to clean the grooves between the scales. Gently brush any accumulated dust free. If your boots have a great deal of dirt caked on them, dampening the cloth can help remove it.
However, it’s vital not to use too much water. If you get your fish leather wet, the leather can grow dry and brittle, causing the scales to flake and fall off. For this reason, it’s essential to use the bare minimum amount of water possible when cleaning your boots.
Just like with suede, you should check the forecast before wearing your bass leather boots outdoors. It’s best to wear these shoes on days with clear skies and no rain or snow.
If you do get your boots wet, don’t panic! Blot the wet area as soon as possible with a soft cloth. If you end up with a water spot or stain, mix a mild soap with some water. Apply only the suds to the cloth—do not dunk the cloth into the soap mixture. Moving in the direction of the scales, wipe the suds across the stain. This method should lift the stain and leave your boots looking as good as before.
Storing Your Bass Leather Boots
As with most exotic leathers, you’ll need to exercise caution when deciding where to store your boots. The best locations are out of direct sunlight, in a cool room with balanced humidity.
Extended time in direct sunlight can cause the color of your leather to fade. Considering the beautiful colors of your bass leather boots, fading is the last thing you want! While it is normal for some of the scales to fade over time, excessive sunlight can bleach the color dramatically.
In addition to losing color, your boots can also dry out and turn brittle when stored in a hot or sunny location. This dryness can cause your boots’ scales to flake and fall off.
The best place to store your boots is inside a breathable storage case in a cool, shady place like a closet. A wooden box or dust bag are excellent options for preserving the appearance of your footwear.
Conditioning Your Bass Leather Boots
If you want to condition your bass leather boots, use a leather conditioner designed for exotic leather. Silicon spray is an option, but you should use it with caution since it can dry out leather. Whichever leather conditioner you decide to use, be sure to test it on a discrete area of the boot before using it on the entire piece. If there is no discoloration in your leather or color transfer onto your cloth afterward, the product should be fine to use on the entirety of your boot.
Use a soft cloth to apply thin, even layers of conditioner to your bass leather. As always, move the cloth in the direction of the scales. Be sure to use a lint-free cloth to prevent getting annoying bits of lint stuck on your boots.
Allow the conditioner to dry for 15 minutes, then buff off the excess. Be sure not to rub too hard, as the pressure can cause discoloration. Enjoy your gorgeous, shiny boots!
Sea bass and big bass leather became popular boot leather choices for a good reason. The soft texture, striking colors, and unique look of this exotic fish leather make for striking pieces of footwear.
If you’re interested in a pair of bass leather boots, check out our extensive collection of men’s exotic western boots here at Country View Western Store. With all kinds of styles and exotic leathers to choose from, we have a perfect pair of boots for every cowboy. Take a look—you might just find your ideal next pair of boots.
