For making of this excellent Kote which only has stitching difference of 2mm, you would need a real cowhide, a cotton at the quality of #8800, both indigo dyed. The indigo dyed cotton is very tightly sewn. It fulfills its job of reducing the impact when hit, and also reduces the chance of getting serious injuries, whereas happenes sometimes when wearing a Kote with a quality of #7000. The surface of the hand of the Kote is made out of japanese deer skin. The mixture of a cotton and deer skin to increase the strength of the Kote. The back of the hand of the Kote is padded through double Namako, and reduces the impact when hit, and makes the Kote flexible.