cordovan

Cordovan is a term with several related meanings. In leather, cordovan or shell cordovan refers to a high-quality leather traditionally made from the fibrous flat muscle found in the hindquarters of horse hides. The name originates from Córdoba, Spain, where the trade began. Cordovan leather is produced by a careful tanning process that yields a dense, smooth surface and a rich depth of color, developing a distinctive patina with use. Shell cordovan—derived from a particular layer inside the horsehide—is especially prized for durability, a unique grain, and resistance to creasing. It is commonly used for luxury wallets, shoes, and belts, and is associated with specialist tanneries such as Horween Leather Company in the United States.

Cordovan also describes a color, a dark reddish-brown shade rooted in the appearance of the leather. In fashion and design, cordovan denotes materials or items that exhibit this deep, warm tone.

Finally, Cordovan is a demonym for people from Córdoba, a city name shared by places in Spain and elsewhere, most notably Córdoba in Argentina. In English, a person from Córdoba may be called a Cordovan, though Spanish usage commonly employs cordobés for a male or cordobeña for a female.