Animal hides
Animal hides are skins obtained from animals that are used for human consumption. Examples of animal hide souces are deer and cattle typically used for producing leather, alligator skins, snake skins and wild cats, minks and bears, whose skins are primarily sought for their fur. In India leather is produced from cattle hides at home/ small scale. Various tannins are used for this purpose. On large scale also leather making is done.History
Anthropologists believe that animal hides provided an important source of clothing for prehistoric humans. Animal hides were also frequently believed to be used for shelter by primordial peoples.
American Indians (few of the tribes) used to build houses from animal hides.
Animal hides have always been used as a status symbol. Fur was used to demonstrate wealth. Natural leather is used in many expensive products, including limousines and designer mobiles phones.
Production Wild animals are killed and skinned. Their hides are dried and tanned. (used in the past). More cost-effective today is to grow animals in captivity and then kill them.
Sable fur is produced in Russia and is one of the most expensive.
Use
Ermine fur was historically popular in ceremonial clothes of European monarchs.
Misc
Animal rights activists protest use of animal hides in clothing. Someone (who?someone in a protest?) said "I would rather go naked than wear fur" (add to list of slogans?).
There are many artificial replacements for animal hides, including artificial fur and artificial leather. Their quality and the quality of other replacements is often comparable to that of the natural product.