About
Zulu is a color variant of waxed kudu leather produced by Charles F. Stead. This leather features the characteristic properties of C.F. Stead's waxed kudu line, including soft pliability, natural character markings from wild kudu hides, and distinctive pull-up characteristics from the wax treatment.
About
Zulu is a color variant of waxed kudu leather produced by Charles F. Stead. This leather features the characteristic properties of C.F. Stead's waxed kudu line, including soft pliability, natural character markings from wild kudu hides, and distinctive pull-up characteristics from the wax treatment.
The leather combines the tannery's proprietary Janus tannage with full wax impregnation, creating a material valued for its natural character markings and combination of softness with strength. The Zulu colorway is available to multiple footwear makers in C.F. Stead's standard waxed kudu collection.
Characteristics
Like other waxed kudu leathers, Zulu exhibits the natural scars, scratches, and grain variations that come from wild kudu antelope living in Southern Africa. The wax finish highlights these natural imperfections while providing water resistance and the material's characteristic pull-up effect, where the leather temporarily lightens when bent or creased.
The leather maintains the standard waxed kudu thickness range of 1.6-2.2mm and demonstrates the same combination of pliability with resistance to tearing that defines this leather type. The reverse side presents as soft suede, resulting from C.F. Stead's Janus tannage method.
References
"Waxed Kudu". Charles F Stead and Co Ltd. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
