Here are some descriptions of the leather glossary terms used at our site for your reference. We hope this reference guide is useful to you and will make you feel more confident about the features that our products provide.
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created by the tanning of animal rawhide and skin, often cattle hide. It can be produced through manufacturing processes ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry. Related to the term Leather, there is another term, PU or PU leather, that shoppers usually will encounter when they shop for leather products. PU or Polyurethane is a synthetic material that can be made to feel, look and display properties similar to Genuine Leather, but it is not Genuine Leather.
Leather Types
Full-grain leather refers to hides that have not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed (as opposed to top-grain or corrected leather) to remove imperfections (or natural marks) on the surface of the hide. The grain remains allowing the fiber strength and durability. The grain also has breathability, resulting in less moisture from prolonged contact. Rather than wearing out, it will develop a patina over time. High quality leather furniture and footwear are often made from full-grain leather. Full-grain leathers are typically available in two finish types: aniline and semi-aniline.
Top-grain leather is the second-highest quality leather type, and is the most common type of leather used in high-end fashion leather products such as handbags, backpacks, wallets and fashion leather accessories. It has had the “split” layer separated away, making it thinner and more pliable than full-grain. Its surface has been sanded and a finish coat added to the surface which results in a colder, plastic feel with less breathability, and it will not develop a natural patina. It is typically less expensive and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.
Corrected-grain leather is any leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. The hides used to create corrected leather do not meet the standards for use in creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather. The imperfections are corrected or sanded off, and an artificial grain impressed into the surface and dressed with stain or dyes. Most corrected-grain leather is used to make pigmented leather as the solid pigment helps hide the corrections or imperfections. Corrected grain leathers can mainly be bought as two finish types: semi-aniline and pigmented.
Split leather is leather created from the fibrous part of the hide left after the top-grain of the rawhide has been separated from the hide. During the splitting operation, the top-grain and drop split are separated. The drop split can be further split (thickness allowing) into a middle split and a flesh split. In very thick hides, the middle split can be separated into multiple layers. Split leather then has an artificial layer applied to the surface of the split and is embossed with a leather grain (bycast leather).
Leather Styles
Pebbled leather, also referred to as pebble leather, is a type of leather with a particular type of textured surface. The surface is pressed with little rounded, raised areas, or bumps. This gives it the look of tiny little pebbles grouped together. The texture can be very pleasant, and is often made in soft leathers. Since it creates raised areas on the surface, the leather is less prone to scratching and marks from abrasions, and scratches are typically less noticeable.
Patent leather is a type of leather that has been treated with a glossy, varnished finish to give it a very clear and shiny appearance. Patent leather is characterized by having a shiny and polished surface, which is generally water proof, or water resistant, and helps provide durability by protecting the leather underneath. Due to it’s shine, patent leather is often used in more formal and dress leather products such as handbags, shoes and belts.
Suede leather is a kind of leather with a napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, purses, furniture and other items.