What Areas of Brazil Supply the Best Cowhide Rugs

No matter your reason for purchasing a cowhide rug, I am sure you want the best quality for the best price. Not all cowhide rugs are created equally. When you’re seeking out those cowhide rugs, it’s no secret that the rugs from Brazil are some of the most sought after cowhide rugs because they are of the highest quality.

What makes Brazilian cowhide rugs the best, and how do you choose which part of Brazil you want your rug to be from? Do different Brazilian locations offer better rugs than others?

We will share with you all you need to know about quality, location, and general information about Brazilian cowhide rugs and calf hide rugs.

The Process

Brazilian cowhides are the highest quality cowhide rug available and are highly sought after. Brazilian cowhide and calf hide rugs go through a specific detailed process to get to the best rug.

In most cases, cowhide rugs are a natural by-product of the meat industry. When cows are sent to market for meat, creating rugs and other cowhide products prevent valuable hides from being wasted.

When the Brazilian producers have a fresh hide, it is immediately soaked in water. This step softens the hide, which will make it softer and easier to work with. The water soak preps the hide for the tanning process.  The hide should be of the best quality before this process even begins. Many cowhide producers in other countries do not pre-soak the hide.

The hide is then moved to the tanning process. Brazilian cowhide producers follow a tanning process that includes chrome salts. The process builds the collagen in the hide and will preserve the hide and make it soft. This tanning process also increases the durability of the hide. This tanning process can take many hours to complete. Brazilian cowhides are typically tanned for up to 8 hours. The overall tanning process is what sets Brazilian cowhides apart so much from other producers.

The finishing step of the process also includes chromium salts, to prevent the hide from taking on a bluish hue. This finishing step is one of the most important steps to prevent discoloration of the hide. This finishing process in a sense dyes the hide to maintain the natural color of the hide.

The hide could be dyed or acid-washed once the tanning and finishing process is completed. At times, the hides can even be dyed to look like other animal skins.

The Choice

One of the reasons cowhides are so popular is because they are each unique in their own way. In some mass production sites, the hides lose quality and value but they become less individualized and many end up looking the same.

Brazilian cowhide rug producers use only the best quality, which are typically from cows raised and cared for in Brazil. The most common, quality areas for cowhide rugs to come from in Brazil are: Rio Grande do Sul, Buenos Aires, and Uruguai.

Cowhides from Brazil go through a special process, but the hides are higher quality before they even get to the tanning and dying process. Cows raised in Brazil are well cared for specifically so they will produce quality hides. These cows are typically fed special diets that will positively affect their hides and they are groomed with oils to have a healthy soft hide.

Cowhides from Brazil are unique in many ways. Because of the care of the cows, they tend to have more unique prints and colors of cowhides, while also having many of the more known colors or prints.

What Qualities Set Brazilian Cowhide Rugs Apart from Others?

We know that the process by which Brazilian cowhide rugs go through is a very specific process that produces some of the best cowhide rugs in the world, but what qualities are so distinct about the rug?

The cowhides that come directly from Brazil are distinctly different from other hides in many ways. Let’s talk about a few reasons you might want to find your perfect Brazilian cowhide rug.

1. The tanning process of rugs in Brazil is a specialized process that brightens and holds the best colors of the rug. In comparison, countries that utilize inferior tanning methods may have rugs that seem dull or that still hold an unpleasant smell. The process takes time, and many manufacturers sacrifice time to simply produce a standard quality rug.
2. Brazilian hides tend to be more soft and smooth than other hides. This relates back to the tanning process but also has to do with how the cows are raised. Brazilian cows have a much better environment that they are raised in and are often cared for with specialized diets and oils rubbed into the skin. The softness is not a cheap feel, but a soft, quality material
3. The thickness of cowhides can vary, and this is something that may not be noticeable at first glance, but will make a significant difference in the life and durability of the hide. The thicker and sturdier feeling the hide is, the better quality it is. Some cheaper, lesser made rugs tend to be flimsy and thin. They tolerate much less wear and can be prone to curling.
4. Brazilian hides rarely have stitching. Because the hides are of the best quality before they even reach the tanning process, the hide is much more likely to survive the tanning process with no tears. Many hides have concealed stitching where they may have been torn or marred during the tanning process and that has been concealed. Often it is concealed with a like fabric that blends in.

Cowhide rugs do not have to be used in only Western-style décor. These accessories have become more and more popular as rugs, but also as furniture and throw pillows. Cowhide rugs can be purchased in various sizes, colors, and patterns and most likely you can find one to be a great statement piece in your home and still match your modern décor. Brazil offers the best quality rugs in comparison to any other producers in the world.