Fish leather, also called fish skin leather, is the skin of fish such as salmon, wolffish, cod and perch, tanned into real leather. It looks exotic, similar to snake or lizard skin, but it comes from fish that were already caught for food. At Fish Leather Studio, every hide is tanned in Iceland and hand-finished and dyed by me, Mindaugas Andrijauskas.
Where does fish leather come from?
Fish leather is a by-product of the food industry. The skins would usually be thrown away; tanning turns that waste into a durable material. My leather is tanned by Nordic Fish Leather in Sauðárkrókur, northern Iceland, and then top-finished and coloured in my studio.
Does fish leather smell like fish?
No. Tanning removes the natural fish oils and replaces them with tanning agents. Finished fish leather smells like any good cow or sheep leather.
Is fish leather strong?
Yes — for its thickness, fish leather is often stronger than cowhide. Cowhide fibres run mostly in one direction, while fish skin fibres cross each other, which gives high tear strength. That is why a thin hide (usually 0.6–1.0 mm) can still be used for wallets, straps, jewellery and even shoes.
Is fish leather sustainable?
It is one of the most eco-friendly leathers available, because no animal is raised or caught for its skin. It uses a waste stream from fish processing, and my tannery, Nordic Fish Leather, runs on geothermal energy.
The fish come from certified sources. The salmon is farmed under the GlobalG.A.P. and ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) standards, and the cod is caught in MSC-certified (Marine Stewardship Council) fisheries.
What types of fish leather are there?
| Fish | Look and feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon | Small scale pockets in a regular pattern; very flexible | Earrings, rings, bracelets, bow ties, wallets |
| Wolffish | Smooth, scale-free, often with dark spots; very soft | Necklaces, shoes, larger leather goods |
| Cod | Rugged, textured surface | Accessories, panels |
| Perch | Large, prominent scales with a bold pattern | Bow ties, statement pieces |
What colours does fish leather come in?
Salmon leather takes dye very well. I colour it by hand in shades inspired by Iceland: white and greys, lava blacks, glacier and ocean blues, moss greens and turquoise, browns and golds, and reds, burgundy, violet and pink. I also use my own inkjet and artistic dyeing techniques, so some shades are not available anywhere else. See all colours of salmon fish leather.
What is fish leather used for?
- Jewellery: stud and drop earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets
- Accessories: bow ties, card holders and wallets
- Leather craft: whole hides and small panels for makers — see Fish Leather material
How do you care for fish leather?
- Clean with a soft, dry cloth; on salmon, brush only in the direction of the scales.
- Don't soak it. If it gets wet, let it dry naturally, away from direct heat.
- Use a conditioner made for exotic leathers.
Can you sew fish leather?
Yes. Most home sewing machines handle it with a leather needle, and it is easy to hand-sew because it needs much less force than thick veg-tan cowhide.
Where can I buy Icelandic fish leather?
You can buy finished jewellery and accessories, and raw hides for leathercraft, directly from Fish Leather Studio at fishleatherstudio.com. I ship worldwide from Iceland for $4 (Europe, US and the rest of the world), and within Iceland for $9 or by local pickup. In Iceland, you can also see my work in person at Duus Handverk, Hafnargata 62, Keflavík.