undressed kid skin, 1884 (as an adjective from 1874), from gants de Suède (1859), literally "gloves of Sweden," from French Suède "Sweden" (see Swede). Suede shoes attested from 1885.
Entries linking to suede
Swede n.
"native of Sweden," 1610s, from Low German, from Middle Low German Swede, from a source akin to Old English Sweoðeod, literally "Swede-people," from Sweon (plural) "Swedes" (Old Norse, Old Swedish Sviar), called by the Romans Suiones, probably from Proto-Germanic *sweba "free, independent," or else from *geswion "kinsman."