History Main / GenuineHumanHide

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'':
** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', on the final night, the BigBad, [[spoiler:known as Ennard, scoops out the player character's innards]] and uses this trope to [[spoiler:escape from Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental]] in the [[MultipleEndings bad/real ending]]. The Custom Night cutscenes show a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome ensuing when [[spoiler:the skin starts to rot]], forcing the BigBad to [[spoiler:exit it and escape into the sewers]].
** A more comedic example shows up in ''VideoGame/UltimateCustomNight'', where one of Rockstar Bonnie's serenades that he sings when killing the player states that [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon he's going to make slippers out of them]].

* The Roman emperor Valerian I was captured at the Battle of Edessa by the Persian King Shapur I. At first, Shapur merely used Valerian as a human footstool. However, when Shapur grew tired of this game, he had Valerian flayed alive, then stuffed his skin with dung and straw and had it put on display in one of the larger temples in his capital.

* ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'': In the first book, the seat of [[WarGod Ares']] motorbike is described to resemble caucasian human skin. It wasn't outright verified, but given the Olympian in question and how Hades has the souls of the damned sown into his clothes, it's incredibly likely that it was genuine.

->''"He's making himself a 'woman suit,' Mr. Crawford - out of real women! And he can sew, this guy, he's really skilled. A dressmaker, or a tailor...that's why they're all so big - because he needs a ''lot'' of skin. He keeps them alive to starve them a while, to loosen their skin..."''

* Youaltepuztli Nahualpilli from the anecdotes of ''Anime/SaintSeiyaTheLostCanvas'', who did it for ''warmth''.

** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', on the final night, the BigBad, [[spoiler:known as Ennard, scopes out the player character's innards]] and uses this trope to [[spoiler:escape from Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental]] in the [[MultipleEndings bad/real ending]]. The Custom Night cut-scenes shows a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome ensuing when [[spoiler:the skin starts to rot]], forcing the BigBad to [[spoiler:exit it and escape into the sewers]].

** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', on the final night, the BigBad, [[spoiler:known as Ennard, scopes out the player character's innards]] and uses this trope to [[spoiler:escape from Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental]] in the [[MultipleEndings bad/real ending]]. The Custom Night cut-scenes shows a SurprisingRealisticOutcome ensuing when [[spoiler:the skin starts to rot]], forcing the BigBad to [[spoiler:exit it and escape into the sewers]].

-->''Er trommelt lang, er trommelt laut''[[note]]He drums long, he drums loud[[/note]]
-->''Er schlägt auf eine Totenhaut''[[note]]He plays on a dead man's skin[[/note]]

* ''Manga/AnatoliaStory'': Zuwa from the Kaska/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Kashga]] clan kills humans and sews his clothes out of the collected skin. Features include black for nubian and brown for egyptian.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''
** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', on the final night, the BigBad, [[spoiler:known as Ennard, scopes out the player character's innards]] and uses this trope to [[spoiler:escape from Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental]] in the [[MultipleEndings bad/real ending]]. The Custom Night cut-scenes shows {{Reality Ensu|es}}ing when [[spoiler:the skin starts to rot]], forcing the BigBad to [[spoiler:exit it and escape into the sewers]].

* A rare semi-positive portrayal in ''{{Webcomic/Digger}}'' - the Skin Lizards. They wear the skins of sapient beings, believing themselves to be the cast-off skins of men who have died. They mean well by it, offering to skin the main character and her companion to spare them of having to see a dead god. In their own bizarre way, they're trying to be helpful. [[spoiler:This ritual is eventually Ed's send-off.]]

** Mengil Manhide's Manflayers are a group of mercenary Dark Elves known for their tendency to flay their victims alive in an orgy of violence and then wear their tattered skins like capes.

* The demon Belial in ''VideoGame/RealmsOfTheHaunting'' cannot be branded on account of being a demon. And the brand is required to be able to touch the [[ArtifactOfPower shrive]], which puts him at a serious disadvantage compared to everyone else who wants it. But what he can do is make humans get branded, take the branded skin, fashion it into gloves, wear those gloves, and if he's lucky this will allow him to hold the shrive. He's lucky and the happiest demon ever for it. There's a newspaper article in the game about the mysterious disappearance of three French dermatology surgeons, which logically has to do with Belial's gloves. Either it's their skin or they made the gloves for him.
* There was a mad tanner in the video game ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' who could craft an evil-only leather armor from human skin and the blood of a silver dragon (the only non-evil species of dragon encountered in the game).
** Much earlier you encounter gauntlets of ogre strength, which seem to be made from actual ogre hands.
* Done in ''VideoGame/FallenLondon'' with the duelist gloves...maybe. The description is your character doubting that it's REALLY human skin.
* Sakahagi in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' wears an outfit made from the skins of Manikins he's killed.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** The series' in-game book ''[[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/confessions-khajiit-fur-trader Confessions of a Khajiit Fur Trader]]'' is exactly what it says on the cover: The tale of a [[CatFolk Khajiit]] who made an absolute fortune [[SapientFurTrade selling the pelts of his kind]], as well as [[LizardFolk Argonian leather]]. It all began with his brother's hide and went downhill from there.
** The [[GreatBigBookOfEverything Oghma Infinium]] is an artifact of Hermaeus Mora, the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Prince]] of [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow Knowledge]]. It contains immense forbidden knowledge and is bound in mortal hides.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'':
*** The [[http://images.wikia.com/elderscrolls/images/d/da/Skyrim_oghma_infinium.png Oghma Infinium]] appears once again, but this time is bound with the skin of every [[OurElvesAreDifferent race of Mer]] you collected blood from to get it.
*** Based on some of their dialogue, it's implied that the [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters Forsworn]]'s armor is made from the tanned skins of the people they killed. The Forsworn [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized are not nice people]]. At all.
* The Tome of Eternal Darkness, from [[VideoGame/EternalDarkness the game of the same name]], is bound in human skin.
* ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'':
** The Pox Faulds are a pair of trousers made from the skins of plague victims. While the skins were apparently treated somehow, it wasn't enough to stop the pants from releasing an odor strong enough to poison nearby enemies.
** The Golemskin Breeches are [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a pair of pants made from a golem's flesh]].
** The Gloves of Worship were created from the skin of a demon by Maghda's coven.
** The String of Ears is a belt made from... well, guess.
** The Demon's Skin and Demon's Hide sets use demon skin to make chest armor, belts, bracers, pauldrons, and pants. When paired together, the wearer becomes more effective against demonic foes, and enemies take some damage from their own attacks.
** The Necromancer-exclusive Bones of Rathma set consists of shards of bone from various necromancers' former skeletal minions. Fittingly enough, the set encourages Necromancers to rely on their own skeletal army in combat.
** The Tall Man's Finger and Short Man's Finger were once fingers from Umbaru priests before getting turned into rings that enhance Witch Doctors' summoned pets.

* Goblins in ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' can and will make leather out of sentient creatures. Your [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarves]] won't due to being averse to butchering sapients, though they can process [[SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset skeletons]] after enough time has passed. And if a Dwarf goes into a [[MadArist Fell Mood]], they'll ''kill another dwarf'' and [[HumanResources make them into crafting materials]], which can include leather.
** You can fairly easily turn off this aversion through modding, however, which allows you to sell the elves clothes made from the skin of their countrymen.
* The [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Skin Bandits]] of ''VideoGame/{{Kenshi}}'' are a group of robots that wear ''full body'' skin suits in order to BecomeARealBoy. [[FlayingAlive If you're unlucky enough to run into them, they'll politely request yours.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}:''
** Psychos, common enemies in the series are in excruciating demand of such leather. Whether they have tastes for it, metaphorically and [[IAmAHumanitarian literally]], they '''will''' get one, but never actually seen wearing one... until ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'' finally shows you a close look of what a [[spoiler:face pizza]] [[{{Squick}} looks like]].
** Earlier in ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'', if you have Rhys call Vasquez "Wallet Head" after an old insult Handsome Jack gave him, Vasquez will threaten to save some of Rhys' skin after killing him to make a wallet to "remember him by".

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''
** In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', on the final night, the BigBad, [[spoiler:known as Ennard, scopes out the player character's innards]] and uses this trope to [[spoiler:escape from Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental]] in the [[MultipleEndings bad/real ending]]. The Custom Night cut-scenes shows {{Reality Ensu|es}}ing when [[spoiler:the skin starts to rot]], forcing the BigBad to [[spoiler:exit it and escape into the sewers]].
** A more comedic example shows up in ''VideoGame/UltimateCustomNight'', where one of Rockstar Bonnie's serenades that he sings when killing the player states that [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon he's going to make slippers out of them]].

* A rare non-malevolent version of this trope is offered to us in ''VideoGame/SunlessSkies'' at the end of the quest given by [[spoiler:the Incognito Princess: after her wedding to the monstrous King of Choirs, she transforms into a giant bee monster, leaving behind her empty human skin. Said skin can be given to one of her two admirers who will be able to wear it and take the Princess' place in the crew.]]
* "Human leather cowboy hats" is such a well-known meme in ''VideoGame/{{Rimworld}}'' that the players [[HumanResources refer to useless characters as "hats"]]. Of course, colonists get ''seriously'' upset about every step in the whole process, but it just seems like a waste of time and energy to just burn all those corpses, raider or otherwise, after a few dozens pile up, so might as well just butcher for [[ImAHumanitarian meat]] (which you can feed into the Chemfuel reactor if your colonists are squeamish) and leather in case of emergency and for trade purposes. Funnily enough, human leather apparel sells really well despite people who aren't complete psychos or cannibalistic getting really upset about actually wearing it.

* Some of the cannibals in ''VideoGame/TheForest'' wear faces that are clearly not their own.

* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' [[PlayingWithATrope plays with this trope]] in a rather horrific fashion. [[spoiler: Considering this is a world made entirely of arts and crafts, paper characters are considered living beings. So when [[BigBad King Olly]] refolds Princess Peach's castle into his own Origami Castle, this includes ''turning Peach into a massive, silent, '''lifeless''' mural on the wall of his throne room!'' To put this into perspective, it'd be like if someone embedded an ''entire human body'' on a wall display for everyone to see. Fortunately it gets undone by Olivia using the ThousandOrigamiCranes technique to undo all of Olly's work, restoring Peach to normal, but this is [[AndIMustScream a pretty disturbing fate]] once the FridgeHorror kicks in.]]

->''"He's making himself a 'woman suit,' Mr. Crawford - out of real women! And he can sew, this guy, he's really skilled. A dressmaker, or a tailor... That's why they're all so big - because he needs a ''lot'' of skin. He keeps them alive to starve them awhile, to loosen their skin..."''

[[caption-width-right:275:[[NonIndicativeName Despite the name, that's not leather on his face...]]]][[note]][[{{Squick}} At least, not the type of "leather" that we know, anyway]][[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:275:[[NonIndicativeName Despite the name, that's not leather on his face...]]]]

* In ''Film/MenInBlack'', the alien villain spends most of the movie wearing the skin of Edgar, a farmer he killed and skinned. Note that the alien in question is about five times Edgar's size--he's squeezing himself into a tinier shape just to make it fit.

* In ''Film/MenInBlack'', the alien villain spends most of the movie wearing the skin of Edgar, a farmer he killed and skinned. Note that that the alien in question is about five times Edgar's size--he's squeezing himself into a tinier shape just to make it fit.

* In ''Film/MenInBlack'', the alien villain spends most of the movie wearing the skin of Edgar, a farmer he killed and skinned.

[[caption-width-right:275:Despite the name, that's not leather on his face...]]