Cordovan is said to have been named because it was mostly made in the Cordoba region of Spain.
This leather is made from a special fiber called the Cordovan layer, which is only produced from agricultural horses that have been raised on pasture in a natural environment, and can only be obtained from the rump, which accounts for less than 20% of the animals.

Cordovan is said to be a precious leather that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
While ordinary cowhide leather is tanned and finished on the "surface" (the surface that has been in contact with the air) of the specimen being collected, Cordovan is specially processed to smooth the "back" of the specimen.

This leather is a leather that only a very limited number of tanners are allowed to work on, as it requires a completely different method from the normal production process, and it also requires a stable quality finish from raw hides that are difficult to obtain around the world.

Cowhide is a two-layered leather consisting of a base called toko and a surface called ginmen, whereas cordovan is a single-layered leather with only the cordovan layer between the front and back sides of the leather.

The work of carefully carving out the raw hide little by little and preparing the Cordovan layer is extremely delicate and requires the skill of an outstanding craftsman.
If the piece is cut too deeply or scratched, it will no longer be Cordovan.
This precise and delicate work process is similar to mining for gemstones, so it is also called "leather diamond."

BROOKLYN MUSEUM's gloss cordovan leather is sourced from Shinki Leather Co., Ltd. (Himeji), the only cordovan tanner in Japan that is said to have only two companies in the world, and all processes including carving, dyeing, and finishing are carried out by Radel Ogawa Co., Ltd. (Chiba).
By impregnating it with more oil than regular cordovan, it has a finish that combines supple strength and firmness from the moment you hold it in your hands.
Best of all, by collaborating with Radel Ogawa, who is said to have the best dyeing technology, it has become possible to express BROOKLYN MUSEUM's color creations.

Thanks to the many processes and labor involved, even a few scratches will not reveal the base, and because it is a matte finish, you can feel that the unique dull shine will increase over time.

In general, Cordovan has a negative image, such as being easily scratched and being sensitive to water. When the cordovan layer is first used, the fibers are in a stand-up state, so even the slightest scratch will leave noticeable marks, and water will not stay on the surface but will penetrate, and once absorbed, it will be difficult to recover. However, with use, the fibers gradually settle into a sleeping state, making the surface firmer and more resistant to friction and water.
It also creates a unique texture that makes even small scratches unnoticeable.

In recent years, as the speed of mechanization in the agricultural industry has increased, the number of agricultural horses has decreased significantly, and even horses with a solid cordovan layer are becoming rarer.
As the rarity value increases year by year on a global scale and it becomes difficult to obtain high quality cordovan leather, it can be said that it is a valuable leather that can last a lifetime.