Japanese Shell Cordovan (Shinki Hikaku)
There are only a few tanneries that still produce Cordovan leather in the whole world. The Japanese have a certain reputation in this field and the name Shinki-Hikaku often appears. Shinki leather is the most revered and most expensive horsehide in the world. What makes it so special is the quality of the hides which are cured for months in mimosa bark tanning solution and then dried. These hides have the perfect balance of strong shrunken grain, character on the surface, lack of scarring and flexibility. Shell cordovan comes from the butt of a horse, which is where the densest leather exists. This allows you to get an almost mirror finish on the leather as well as no creasing during use.