Kidskin or
kid leather is a type of soft, thin
leather that is traditionally used for
gloves (hence the phrase '
kid gloves,' used since at least 1888 as a metaphor for careful handling). It is widely used for other fashion purposes such as footwear and clothing. Kidskin is traditionally made from
goatskin - more specifically, the skin of young
goats (or 'kids'), although equivalent leathers such as
lambskin and chickenskin (actually a form of
calfskin) give the same effect.