Leather has been used since the dawn of civilisation because it has both durability and flexibility and is often readily available since it is a by-product of food production from the herd or hunting. Whether it's for saddles, belts, containers, straps, protection, or a huge variety of other uses, people have used this wonder material in the Isles of Britain, the sands of Arabia, the valleys of China, the mountains of Japan, the savannah of Africa, the grassy plains of America and the frozen steppes of Russia and Mongolia because it was a vital material for survival. Even today leather is still the number one material for many uses only challenged by polymers and plastic, yet people prefer to choose leather because it can be relied upon and trusted for a long time to come.