Not only was the armour used functionally but also ceremonially and socially. These examples tended toward decorative additions to the armour with a marked increase in the quality of craftsmanship, reflecting the pride and effort of its creator. This resulted in the armour becoming a symbol of status within a culture.
Despite the fact that hide armour has long been outclassed by synthetic construction and much stronger types of armour, it still sees widespread use in the more primitive areas of the galaxy and among societies and families that maintain long traditions of armour crafting.