Sharkskin vs. Shagreen — What's the Difference?

The skin of a shark, noted for its smooth texture.

Valued for its exotic appeal and durability.

Material used in swimwear to mimic shark skin’s efficiency.

Often dyed in various colors to enhance its look.

Adapted into modern textiles for performance.

Leather made from the skin of sharks or rays, used in luxury items.

Known for its dermal denticles that reduce drag.

Known for its rough, pebbled texture.

Utilized by indigenous peoples for practical tools.

Popular in decorative arts and fashion.

Sharkskin is a generic term used to describe a woven or warp-knitted fabric that imitates the shark's skin. The lines run from lower left to upper right on the face of the fabric .

Shagreen is a type of rawhide consisting of rough untanned skin, historically from a horse's or onager's back, or from shark or ray.

The skin of a shark.

The rough hide of a shark or ray with embedded denticles, used as an abrasive and as leather.

Leather made from the skin of a shark.

An untanned leather with a granular surface that is often dyed green.

A synthetic fabric having a smooth, somewhat shiny surface.

An untanned leather, often dyed green; originally made from horse skin, today mostly made from the skin of a shark or ray.

A worsted fabric of a twill weave, having a slightly shiny appearance and used especially for suits.

(entomology) A rough or spiny surface of an insect's cuticle.

The skin of a shark.

(transitive) To give a texture resembling shagreen leather.

A shiny fabric made from synthetic fibers.

To chagrin.

A smooth crisp fabric

A kind of untanned leather prepared in Russia and the East, from the skins of horses, asses, and camels, and grained so as to be covered with small round granulations. This characteristic surface is produced by pressing small seeds into the grain or hair side when moist, and afterward, when dry, scraping off the roughness left between them, and then, by soaking, causing the portions of the skin which had been compressed or indented by the seeds to swell up into relief. It is used for covering small cases and boxes.

The skin of various small sharks and other fishes when having small, rough, bony scales. The dogfishes of the genus Scyllium furnish a large part of that used in the arts.

Made or covered with the leather called shagreen.

Covered with rough scales or points like those on shagreen.

Shagreen's unique texture and the complex process required to prepare it make it a symbol of sophistication and exotic luxury.

Sharkskin refers to the raw skin of sharks used primarily for functional applications, while shagreen is a processed form of shark or ray skin used in luxury goods.

Sharkskin is used in applications requiring hydrodynamic efficiency, like swimwear and wetsuits.

Shagreen is used in luxury fashion accessories, decorative arts, and high-end furniture.

Shagreen is tanned and often dyed, a process that enhances its pebbly texture and color to suit aesthetic and commercial needs.

Sharkskin is smooth with microscopic denticles, whereas shagreen has a deliberately rough and granular texture.

Historically, shagreen was used in the West during the 17th and 18th centuries for items like sword handles, book covers, and small decorative boxes.

While not typical, sharkskin-inspired textiles are occasionally used in performance clothing due to their water-resistant properties.

Shagreen’s rough texture and the ability to dye it various colors make it popular for adding visual and tactile interest in high-end interior design.

The sustainability of sharkskin and shagreen can be contentious due to concerns over shark and ray populations, leading to calls for responsible sourcing and alternatives.