Why Is It Called ‘Patent Leather’?
Used in goods ranging from formal footwear to watch bands and wallets, patent leather is a stylish, extremely durable material relied on by clothiers around the globe. By definition, patent leather is “a leather with a hard smooth glossy surface,” and it’s known as much for its eye-catching luster as
for its water- and scuff-resistant nature. But is this style of leather actually under patent, or is the term less literal in nature? The Oxford English Dictionary records the term “patent leather,” referring to leather coated in a protective varnish, appearing in print by the end of the 18th century....
