Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-4141313-20181215021300/@comment-25396609-20181224215057

73.Anon.52 wrote: I was joking, I can't read SYUTK's mind or anything. That said, I do think it's lazy, especially if naming an entire bases personnel theme on a material they barely seem to use... I'd expect it from Mistral, Vale, or Vacuo, but Atlas should be metals/ore, not leather... they are wearing grey rather than leathery tones too... it just doesn't fit well. ....no, no, absolutely not.

Do you know how much metal armor directly on your skin SUCKS? Historically, no matter how heavy the armor a person wore, they always wore some sort of base layer; typically gambeson. This serves several purposes, primarily insulation and to protect from chafing and punching (though it also adds an extra degree of protection).

Boots in particular have almost always been made from leather as it is durable, comfortable, and waterproof. In modern times they are STILL made of leather, however what was once an external plate  (the sabaton) evolved into a layer of the boot itself; the advent of the steel-toed boot.

Also, contrary to popular belief armor made wholly of leather or hide was quite rare. Given it has ideal properties for cobblers to work with most leathr was made into shoes, while quilted cloth (gambeson) was quite widespread among most social classes. This being because you can only harvest so much leather from a single animal, but you can make gambeson by grabbing a few old worn out shirts and sewing them together.