Now that we’re counting down the NBA, WNBA, and Stanley Cup Finals, and to Father’s Day, let’s take a minute to think about how much sporting events have shaped our families.

To think of a soldier, is to think of a person in uniform. But that is a relatively modern innovation. In one sense, military uniforms have been around for thousands of years, but early “uniforms” (such as the loosely regulated armor and clothing required by the Roman military or the army belonging to the first Emperor of China) were handmade, purchased, tailored, and maintained by individual soldiers and their families.

There is a big difference in both how the leathers are tanned, and how they are worked. But the problem is that regulation of leather grew up for different industries, with unique rules developed separately for shoes, watchbands and jewelry, luggage and bags, clothing, etc.