LUXURY FURNITURE - STYLISH DESIGN - QUALITY FURNITURE
LUXURY FURNITURE - STYLISH DESIGN - QUALITY FURNITURE
Leather Buying Guide
Buying a genuine leather item requires thoughtful consideration and keen eye of recognizing the quality of leather. For most average shoppers, leather is just leather. But, many of you know that isn’t true, right? Manufacturers often use different types of leather, depending on the end product.
As you are going to invest considerable funds for buying your favorite genuine leather products, you must know two things:
“What is the best place to buy leather?”
“How to buy the best leather?”
While making a final decision is up to you, the details provided in this leather guide has everything that will surely level up your knowledge to make the final decision.
But, before we dug deeper into various types, qualities, and features of leather, let’s first take a glimpse at the history of the leather industry and how it has developed over time.
Leather Industry
Leather tanning has been around for centuries. It’s one of the oldest industries in human civilization. Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Mesopotamians had developed several different tanning processes centuries before industrialization. Leather was used to make intricate clothing articles such as footwear, gloves, and armor. It was also used to make buckets, bottles, and even weapons. The Industrial Revolution brought all kinds of new technological advances that made the leather-making process highly efficient, environment-friendly, and hygienic.
The leather industry in the United States dates back to the colonial times. It grew with the population throughout the 18th century. By 1750, there were more than 1000 tanneries in the country. The number swelled to more than 8000 by 1840! At the time, the primary leather activity was shoemaking. In 1850, over 11,000 shoemaking establishments were operating in the U.S.
U.S. Leather Industry
U.S. hides and skins companies, which include producers, processors, brokers, and dealers, export more than 90% of the total leather inventory. The U.S is one of the top raw material suppliers to the global leather manufacturing industry. The value of industry exports is worth nearly $3 billion dollars annually.
In 2016, the hide, skin, and leather industry exported more than $2 billion in cattle hides, pigskins, and semi-processed leather products.
Global Leather Goods Market
According to the Global Leather Goods Market 2017-2021 Report, conducted by Technavio analysts, the global leather market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 5% from 2017-2021.
In 2017, the total market value was $217.49 billion. It is expected to reach $271.21 billion by 2021.
This segment is expected to represent an incremental growth of more than $53.72 billion during the forecast period.
The sub-segment of global footwear market was worth $126.99 billion in 2016. In 2016, the Americas registered the highest leather revenue of $83.67 million.
The global leather goods market size was $95.4 billion in 2018. It is expected to reach $128.61 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 4.36% during the forecasted period. On the other hand, a recent market report by Technavio claims that the global leather market will register revenue of almost $289 billion by 2022.
Global Leather Goods Market
Latest Stats & Estimated Future Revenue
$41.16 Billion
$41.16 Billion
is the estimated incremental growth of Handbags Market within 2018-2023
Handbags market is expected to be accelerating growth at CAGR close to 5%
$8.56 Billion
$8.56 Billion
is what the Leather Boots Market is expecting in terms of incremental growth between 2017 & 2022
More
Than 38%
More
Than 38%
was Americas market share in the Global Leather in 2017
Leather Foodwear market is expected to be accelerating growth at CAGR over 6%
Global Market Glowth
$289 Billion
Estimated revenue by 2022
$62.22 Billion
Incremental Growth
Types Of Leather
The quality of leather varies greatly. You have most likely seen different labels on leather items, such as top grain or genuine. These are simply different types of leathers based on their quality. They are nothing but different types of leathers based on their quality.
Now, can you get the best bang for your buck? Yes, you can.
Knowing where to buy leather is just not enough, you must learn to distinguish between different types of leather. You will need to understand why some materials last longer than others and why a particular leather bag costs thousands, while others cost a fraction of that price. So, what is the best leather? The best quality leather will depend on these important factors, most notably:
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Type of animal and breed
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Physical location and climate where the animal lived
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The portion of the hide the leather was cut from (see diagram below)
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The layer of the hide that is used (top grain, full grain, split)
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Quality and skill of the processing and tanning
The Best Quality Leather Is Obtained From
These Portion Of The Hide
1st Grade, Best Value
Only 13% of the hide-Solid close fibred and water resisting. Best wearing, Recommended and guaranteed.
3rd Grade, Fair or Doubtful Value
32% of the hide - Loose in fiber. Sponges and swells in water.
2nd Grade, Good Value
30% of the hide. Gives honest service.
4th Poor Quality
25% of the hide - Only good for a part of the shoe that is not exposed
Different breeds of cows will produce different quality hides due to their genetics and environment. Hot climates tend to have insects that bite the animal and leave scars whereas cold climates don’t suffer from pests as much. Certain breeds might have more protective hair or thicker skins due to the weather.
Different portions of the hide also yield different quality leather. For instance, the lower portion, as shown in the diagram above, tends to have looser fibers that make up the hide. The looser fibers sponge and swell when wet. Lower portions of the hide also tend to get marked much easier from insects and scrapes like barbed wire fencing. There are also more wrinkles in the hide around the legs, neck and head. These scars and wrinkles become permanent and are almost impossible to remove in the processing of the leather.
Different layers within the hide also have an enormous impact on quality. Full grain leather and top-grain are the best. See our in depth focus on the grain vs split just a few paragraphs further down to know which portion you are buying.
Finally, knowing exactly how to take a raw hide and process it through tanning and finishing is a sought after skill and will influence the quality of the final product significantly. Italian leather is admired for this very reason – as Italian leather artisans are considered among the most skilled in the world.
In general, there are four types of leather. These include Full Grain Leather, Top Grain Leather, Corrected Grain Leather, and Bonded Leather. Take a look at the picture below. See how the fibers run both horizontally and vertically in different parts of the hide.
Buying leather with more horizontal fibers wears out quickly because they can readily pull apart. Vertically running fibers, however, are the strongest. In other words, the higher the number of vertical fibers, the better.
A. Full Grain Leather
Full grain leather comes from the top layer of the hide. It includes all the grain with it – hence the name full grain leather. This type of leather retains the inherent toughness, as well as the imperfections because there are no surface alterations or splitting.
It is the highest quality leather and the only one suitable for saddleback. Thus, it is also the most expensive. Working with this leather material is challenging. It absorbs body oils and develops a patina over time – a characteristic that attributes to its popularity.
Common Uses: Saddlebacks, sought-after leather products.
B. Top Grain Leather
Top grain is the second highest grade of leather. Usually, to obtain top grain leather, the top layer of skin from blemished hides is split. The surface is sanded to get rid of inherent imperfections. Pigmentation or staining gives the leather an attractive look.
This also makes top grain leather smoother and more flexible than the full grain. Although this type of leather is strong and durable, it tends to stretch permanently over time. It is used to produce suede and nubuck. Most high-end products, such as handbags and jackets, are comprised of top grain leather.
Common Uses: Suede and nubuck-making, making high-end products such as handbags and jackets
C. Corrected Grain (Bollom Cut/Split) Leather
Corrected grain or split leather, also known as genuine leather, is produced using the skin layers that remain after the top is split off and from the corium predominantly (see diagram above). Split leather tends to be tougher in texture due to the fact that is resides under the top layers and is mostly used in applications that don’t require the leather to be soft like furniture backs and sides.
Just like the top grain leather, it is also sanded to remove natural imperfections. Usually, the surface is spray painted and embossed with a leather-like pattern to resemble natural appearance. However, the processing alters the inherent breathability of the leather.
Common Uses: Making jackets, handbags, messenger bags, accessories, footwear, and furniture.
D. Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is made up of leftovers of the hide. This includes the dust and shavings. These are bonded together using polyurethane or latex on top of a fiber sheet. It is often spray-painted to look like full or top grain leather. You can’t determine the percentage of natural leather unless the manufacturer chooses to disclose it – which is very unlikely. Bonded leather is the lowest (and the cheapest) grade of leather.
Common Uses: Making furniture, bookbinding, and various fashion accessories.
Though there are four basic types of leather, you can find a wide range of options based on the percentage of organic material, durability, and the finishing process.
Aniline Leather: It is the most natural leather with minimal resistance to soiling. Generally, soft and tanned animal hides, such as Napa, are subject to dying in a drum with aniline dyes exclusively. Aniline dyes are translucent and water-soluble dyes that bring out the natural markings, scars, and wrinkles in the hide.
It develops a natural patina over time. As this process is suited to only high-quality animal hides, it is one of the most expensive leathers in the world. It also needs regular upkeep.
Common Uses: Making luxury accessories such as wallets, bags, jackets, and sought-after furniture.
Semi-Aniline Leather: Semi-aniline leather consists of a light surface coating with a small amount of pigment. Thus, it is stronger than aniline leather but maintains its natural look. It also exhibits stain resistance to some extent.
Antique Grain Leather: Also called as distressed leather, it is a type of leather treated to get the rugged appearance of antique or vintage leather. More often than not, the leather surface gets applied with an uneven or partially rubbed-off contrasting top-coat revealing a pale underlying color. This weathered look often tends to attract most shoppers, especially when shopping for leather accessories and furniture.
Common Uses: Making accessories such as wallets, bags, belts, and jackets.
Chrome-Free Leather: Chrome-free leather is made from alternative tanning processes such as vegetable tanning or aldehyde tanning. The environmental pollution resulting from the chrome-based tanning process has compelled many governments and tanneries to adopt these chrome-free tanning processes. The processed leather has almost all the chrome-tanned leather qualities such as higher shrink resistance, more resilience, and flexural strength. Further, there are no toxic effluents degrading the environment.
Common Uses: Making infant shoes and automobile accessories.
Chrome Tanned Leather: Chrome-tanned leather uses chromium salts (chromium sulfates) for tanning the leather instead of vegetable tannins or aldehyde chemicals. Chrome tanned leather is supple, resilient, moderately durable, and has better water resistance. You can use a variety of dyes to produce leather with several different vibrant colors.
However, chrome tanning has extremely grave environmental costs, especially in developing countries. The lack of proper recycling measures often allows the toxic wastewater to sip into the groundwater supplies and also affect the soil. Also, chrome leather is not suitable for patterning and stamping, owing to its supple nature.
Common Uses: Making products that don’t require stiffness or structural toughness such as jackets, bags, gloves, and upholstery.
Corrected Grain Pigmented Leather: While preparing corrected grain pigmented leather, manufacturers subject the hides to sanding and buffing to remove imperfections such as scars and bite marks. Manufacturers often emboss the treated surface with artificial grain and sprayed with a sealer top-coat. This coating lends a more plastic feel to the leather.
The look of corrected grain leather may vary considerably, depending on the embossing and pigmentation process. There are different grades of corrected grain leather. Normally, less corrected grain means better leather quality. It is perhaps the most widely-used leather around the world.
Common Uses: Making jackets, handbags, messenger bags, accessories, footwear, and furniture.
Pigmented Leather: A polymer surface coating, containing certain pigments, is applied to produce the desired look and properties. Due to its durability, pigmented leather is often used to make furniture and car upholstery.
Crust: Crust leather is tanned and dried, but not dyed. Depending on the tanning process, it is called either chrome crust or vegetable crust. However, crust leather is not processed until it is dyed. It has all the physical properties including size, thickness, fullness, looseness of grain, and grain damages.
Common Uses: After finishing it can be used to make leather accessories, footwear, and furniture.
Embossed Leather: Embossed leather is leather with artificial patterns imprinted on the natural grain of animal skin using heat and high pressure. Typically, steel plates with different engraved designs are used to create embossed leather for a variety of applications, including upholstery and accessories.
The most common types of embossing include blind embossing, gold embossing, and color imprint. While blind embossing involves imprinting patterns without any color, gold embossing includes using gold films for imprinting. Color imprint, on the other hand, uses color films for the embossment. Sometimes, the leather may also be bonded with foam and lining to allow the embossed patterns to retain their shape for longer.
Common Uses: Leather furniture, accessories such as bags and jackets, and upholstery.
Finished Split Leather: Split leather is a single layer of leather separated from the animal hide. Usually, the middle or lower section of the hide is used to produce split leather. When it is coated with a polymer and embossed to resemble natural leather-like look, it becomes finished split leather. You can also treat this type of leather with various embossing patterns and finishing touches. Finishing is required to get a surface resembling the finished full-grain leather.
However, it is almost always used in low-stress applications as finished split leather is considerably weaker than grain leather. It is also virtually impossible for the naked eye to differentiate between full grain pigmented leather and finished split leather.
Common Uses: Leather accessories and furniture.
Good Hand Leather: It is highly soft leather. As it feels good against the skin, it is known as good hand leather.
Common Uses: Super-soft leather accessories such as winter gloves, bags, purses, and wallets.
Kidskin Leather: Kidskin leather comes from the hide of lambs or young goats. It is flexible, durable, and supple. It is also extremely lightweight. However, being high-quality leather, it is also one of the most expensive grades of leather. It is less costly than calfskin and requires high maintenance.
Common Uses: Primarily to make gloves for women, kids, and men.
Latigo: Latigo is nothing but cowhide leather specifically designed for outdoor use. A combination of chrome and vegetable tanning is used to make Latigo leather. It brings out the best of both processes, resulting in leather that is durable and supple.
Some tanners may also infused it with oils and waxes through various methods such as hot-stuffing, wet-stuffing, and fat liquoring. The twofold tanning process makes it one of the most expensive leathers in the market.
It is suitable for rough usage as it has strong resistance to moisture and sweat. It can quickly turn from rigid to supple in texture. Although Burgundy is the traditional color of Latigo leather, it is now available in shades of brown, black, and red.
Common Uses: Riding tacks, straps, belts, pet collars, leashes, belts, saddlebacks, cinches, and army accouterments.
Nappa Leather: “Nappa” is a generic name for soft, dyed leather usually used in advertising. There is no distinct test to characterize nappa leather.
Nubuck Leather: Aniline dyed leather is typically used to produce nubuck leather, which comes from the top grain of the hide. It is sanded on the grain side to create a velvety appearance. This velvety appearance and feel often attract shoppers into buying nubuck leather products.
The buffing or sanding removes the visible markings and defects in the top grain. Staining or dying further removes the defects left after buffing. Being made from top-grain leather, nubuck is more durable compared to suede or bonded leather. However, it is susceptible to environmental factors such as mud, dirt, and grit. That’s why nubuck shoes are suited for trekking and other outdoor activities.
Common Uses: Shoes, jackets, wallets, handbags, travel bags, briefcases, and furniture, among other leather items.
Oil Tanned Leather: Producing oil-tanned leather involves processing it with natural oils after the initial vegetable tanning is complete. Most tanneries use fish oil, particularly cod oil, for the tanning process. The purpose is to create a remarkably smooth and flexible finish. These qualities enhance its workability making oil-tanned leather more suitable for textured leather products.
The oil treatment also lends higher water and moisture resistance. It can also fend of scuff marks or minor scratches quickly, a feature all outdoor leather products must have. But most importantly, oil-tanned leather is revered for its beauty. It is available in a variety of stunning colors and finishes. It also develops a gorgeous patina over time.
Common Uses: Outdoor leather gear such as shoes, jackets, bags, and coats, among others.
Patent Leather: Leather coated with a lacquer, usually plastic, to give a slick, mirror-like finish.
Pebble Grain Leather: Pebble is a type of grain or texture of the leather. The top side of such leather mimics a pattern of small pebbles. This texture can be both, natural and artificially embossed. However, natural pebble pattern is not consistent. It is one of the distinguishing features between natural and artificial pebbles. You can find it in almost all types of leather, ranging from full-grain premium hides to lower-grade skins.
Common Uses: Almost all leather products across all price ranges, including accessories and furniture.
Pigmented Leather: To create pigmented leather, a polymer surface coating containing pigments is applied to create the desired look and properties. It is rarely good-quality as a layer of colored polyurethane and varnish often alters the qualities of the hide.
Pigmented leather has uniform surface and color without any inherent defects of the animal skin. It is extremely durable and requires less maintenance. It also offers high resistance against scratches and stains.
Sometimes, however, over-coating can lend it plastic-like an appearance. The pigmentation also reduces its breathability. Due to its durability and low maintenance, pigmented leather is often regarded as the best leather for furniture, especially in the affordable price range.
Common Uses: Furniture, accessories, and car upholstery.
Printed Leather: Printed leather is often stamped with a design or texture to create a unique look. From genuine Italian leather to lower-grade hides, you can find printed leather in almost all price ranges.
Manufacturers often use screen printing or inkjet printing process to imprint patterns, symbols, and ornaments on the leather. In recent years, advancements in the development of leather printing ink have made it possible to print beautiful, intricate, and multi-colored patterns.
Common Uses: Book covers, bags, jackets, and even furniture.
Pull-Up Leather: Pull-up leather or oily pull-up leather stretches over time, providing a unique worn-in effect. It is considered a sign of high quality. Usually, semi-aniline animal hides are used to make this type of leather.
The waxes or oils often darken the original coloration. When stretched and pulled apart, it reveals unique light-colored variations. You can see a beautiful patina developing over time and with wear, providing an aesthetic edge to the leather product.
Common Uses: All leather accessories, especially the best leather for furniture.
Saffiano Leather: Wax finished leather with a cross hatch texture created by a machine. Usually made from calfskin.
Semi-Aniline Leather: Generally, high-quality hides are used to create semi-aniline leather with a thin layer of protection (polyurethane) to retain the natural aesthetics. The base surface coating has a small amount of pigment while other coats have only dye. Thus, semi-aniline leather is stronger compared to the aniline leather, but maintains its natural look. It also exhibits stain resistance to some extent.
Common Uses: Primarily to make upholstery and furniture.
Skirting Leather: Skirting leather is made from the sides of cattle hide. Heavyweight, full-thickness skirting leather offers exceptional strength, making it ideal for making saddles and bridles. Skirting leather is prized for its beauty, workability, and affordable cost of the end-product.
Common Uses: Often used to manufacture saddles and bridles.
Suede: Suede is one of the most popular leather types with a napped finish. Made from the underside of the animal hide such as lamb, goat, calf, pig, and deer, it comes with an attractive finish. As it is thinner and less durable, suede is also vulnerable to damage. It is one of the best grades of leather revered for its look and feel, not durability.
Common Uses: It is used to make jackets, shoes, shirts, purses, curtains, gloves, and furniture.
Tooling Calf Leather: Tooling calf is thin and lightweight vegetable-tanned leather. As the surface is unfinished, it is suitable for leatherwork such as printing, stamping, carving, and engraving. It has a more buttery and supple texture.
Common Uses: Insides, interiors, and linings.
Waxy Hand Leather: Waxy hand leather comes with a grease or wax finish. The soft and scratch-sensitive leather surface develops a beautiful patina over time upon folding, scratching and stretching.
Common Uses: Upholstery, shoes, handbags, and different types of leather furniture.
Leather Thickness
The leather thickness and weight play a critical role in deciding what the end product will be. For example, thinner hides (1-3 ounce) are used to make the leather jacket, furniture, moldings, linens, and embossing. Thick leather, on the other hand, is often used to make items such as leather belt, knife sheaths, holsters, saddlebags, and leather dog collar.
The ounce is the standard unit of measuring the leather thickness. However, some leather thickness charts may also use millimeter and inch as the measuring unit. Typically, an ounce of leather equals 1/64 of an inch. However, the leather thickness varies slightly as the hide doesn’t have a uniform thickness. Split leather may have a more consistent thickness than a rawhide. But, you will still find some variation.
You change, of course, vary the thickness as per your personal taste. Staying within the recommended thickness will provide increased durability. You can use the following leather thickness chart as a thickness guide for all forms of general uses of leather.
How Leather Is Made
Leather tanning is a complex and lengthy process. Though mechanization has made it less labor intensive, it still consists of a complex series of treatments that require considerable time and energy. The purpose of the tanning process is to alter the protein structure of the skin to increase its durability, texture, and appearance.
As mentioned earlier, there are many varieties of leather. However, all types of leathers have to go through four fundamental stages.This includes preparatory steps, tanning, re-tanning, and finishing. Sometimes, a further sub-process of surface coating may be added to the process. Before sending to the tannery, the animal skin needs to be cured. Although curing is not considered a part of the tanning process, it is the first crucial step in obtaining leather.
Usually, the animal is killed and skinned before the body heat leaves the tissues. The freshly removed skin or hide is immediately cured with salt to remove water. The skin is allowed to remain in the shade until it is completely dry. The cured skin or animal hide is then transported to the tanneries for further processing.
A. Preparatory Steps
The cured skin or animal hide needs to be prepared for the tanning process. Although there are various preparatory processes, the purpose of each process is to remove unwanted raw skin components. The tannery may not perform all of them, depending on the quality and type of the desired product.
1) Soaking
At this stage, the cured hide is soaked in water for several hours to several days. This process not only restores the moisture lost during salting, but helps to remove dirt, debris, blood, and excess animal fats.
2) Fleshing
This process removes subcutaneous material from the flesh side. The pelt is passed through a machine to remove the fat, muscle, and flesh mechanically. Usually, this process takes place after slaughter, soaking, or liming. At this stage, or after tanning, hides may be split into different layers.
3) Un-hairing
Hair is removed at this stage using mechanical instruments such as rollers and blades.
4) Pickling
This process involves cleaning and soaking the rawhide in acids or salts to prevent decomposition. It helps the penetration of tanning agents such as chromium and aldehydes. Stronger pickling agents are used to preserve hides for several months.
5) De-Pickling
The hide is soaked in sulfuric acid to lower the pH after pickling.
6) Liming
This process loosens the fibers and allows the skin to absorb various tanning chemicals. Usually, sodium sulfide and hydrated lime are used to treat the hide, as they remove keratinous material such as hair and wool. Fats get hydrolyzed as the pH increases. Water is absorbed into the skin fibers, resulting in a swollen skin structure.
7) De-Liming
In this process, the hide is washed with a mixture of water and ammonium chloride or ammonium sulfate. This removes water (along with any impurities) to reduce swelling.
8) Bating
Bating marks the end of the liming process. The flaccid skin is treated with proteolytic bating enzymes to remove non-fibrous proteins. It cleans the grain and makes the pelt smooth and silky.
9) De-Greasing
Sometimes, water-based solutions and solvents are used to remove excess grease or natural fatty acids from the skin.
10) Bleaching
Chemical agents are used to making the hide colorless to add the desired color at a later stage.
B. Tanning
The primary purpose of this process is to produce a non-decomposable and sturdy material from the raw animal hide, called leather. Essentially, tanning converts the protein of the rawhide into a durable material. The most common tanning processes include mineral tanning, vegetable tanning, and glutaraldehyde tanning.
1) Vegetable Tanning
Vegetable tanning has been around for thousands of years. Unlike mineral tanning, it uses a naturally occurring polyphenol astringent chemical called tannin. This is usually found in bark, leaves, and branches of trees such as oak, chestnut, or mimosa. As it produces shades of deep brown, beige, yellow, and red, tannin lends a unique color and texture to the leather.
However, the process is time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. There are two types of vegetable tanning processes. The slow process takes about 30 days, while the rapid tanning process only lasts about 36 to 48 hours. Sometimes, however, the slow process can take several months, as it may require multiple treatments.
This process produces highly durable leather. So, the vegetable tanned leather is often used to make products such as saddles or holsters. The unmatched durability and distinct appearance makes this leather suitable for imprinting and intricate leatherwork such as tooling.
2) Mineral or Chrome Tanning
Mineral or chrome tanning is the most popular tanning process because it’s much quicker, affordable, and less labor intensive than the others. In 1858, it was introduced as an alternative to the expensive and time-consuming vegetable tanning process. The process can be automated and lasts a day at most. Usually, the time for chromium tanning is around 2 or 3 hours for small and thin skins. However, it can go up to 24 hours for thicker ones obtained from cattle.
The size of chrome molecules is small compared to vegetable tannin ions. As a result, chrome ions can penetrate the collagen and remove water molecules effectively. That’s why chrome tanned leather is thinner and softer than vegetable tanned leather. Chromium (III) sulfate is the most efficient and effective tanning agent. Chrome tanned leather is also called wet blue leather due to its bluish color.
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However, the chrome tanning process creates a negative environmental impact as it comprises heavy usage of acids and other chemicals. The toxic waste can seep into groundwater and contaminate drinking water supplies. The resulting environmental implications are a major concern, especially in developing countries.
3) Aldehyde Tanning
This tanning process uses glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. It is also called wet white leather due to its pale cream color. Aldehyde tanned leather is water absorbent, soft, and can be machine washed. It is, therefore, perfect for use in chamois.
4) Oil Tanning
Sometimes, emulsified oils are blended with aldehyde chemicals to produce exceptionally soft and flexible leather. This process is called oil tanning.
C. Re-Tanning
Re-tanning converts the tanned leather into a marketable product. The choice of chemicals used in this process depends on the desired color and texture in the final product.
1) Drying
At this stage, the tanned leather is pressed between two rolling cylinders to remove the water absorbed during the tanning process.
2) Shaving
This process removes flesh residues and creates uniformly thick leather. The leather passes through two rolling cylinders where the upper one is provided with helical blades.
3) Splitting
A splitting machine slices the thick leather into one or more horizontal layers. Sometimes, this process is also carried out after liming. The top grain layer is the most expensive leather. It is used to make high-end leather merchandise. The layer without grain is used to make suede leather. Sometimes, an artificial grain surface can also be applied to it.
4) Dyeing
With the exception of vegetable tanned leather, all types of leather are dyed. More often than not, water-soluble dyes are used, allowing the dye molecules to penetrate inside the fibers. Thus, it differs significantly from surface coating where dye is applied only on the top layer.
5) Fat Liquoring
Fat liquoring, or stuffing, consists of adding fats, oils, or waxes between fibers to keep the leather soft and flexible. Without this process, the leather will dry and become stiff.
D. Finishing
This is the final stage where finishing touches are added to the tanned leather – as per the desired end product. This includes color, texture, thickness, and surface patterns.
1) Polishing
A velvet wheel rubs the leather to create a shiny surface.
2) Embossing
The process of embossing obtains a three-dimensional print using heated hydraulic or roller presses.
3) Surface Coating
The surface coating process adds color and different designs to leather. As per the customer requirement, resins, pigments, and dyes are added in layers to the surface using a variety of techniques such as spraying, roller-coating, curtain-coating, or hand coating.
4) Final Grading
Finally, the leather is graded before it is dispatched to the customers. Grading is often based on a variety of factors such as the feel of the leather, color, pattern, thickness, softness, and flexibility.
Leather For Furniture
One of the most popular leather item categories is furniture. High-quality leather furniture can last for years. However, each type comes with unique characteristics. In other words, you need to choose the right type of leather to get the most out of your furniture. Hopefully, this quick leather furniture buying guide will help you.
Full Grain Leather
As mentioned before, this is the most expensive and high-end leather out there. It is also the best for furniture because it retains a natural look and texture. The leather is treated with transparent aniline dyes to keep the original look. The texture is a little rough in the beginning but softens over time. However, this type of leather furniture requires a lot of maintenance, as it is susceptible to sunlight and absorbs liquids readily.
2) Top Grain Leather
Top grain leather is also suitable for furniture. This type of leather is softer than the full grain leather and comes with the same durability. Top-grain leather furniture comes in two different categories: aniline and semi-aniline. While aniline leather recliners may look natural, they remain susceptible to stains. Semi-aniline leather furniture, on the other hand, is relatively less susceptible because it can be treated with a protective topcoat. This type of leather furniture is also expensive. At Octane Seating, we primarily use top grain leather on all portions of the seating that you will touch. This means the seat back, seat cushion, armrests, and footrest - all utilize top grain. We then use a perfect synthetic PU match (see below) on the exterior sides and the exterior seat back. The synthetic match on those portions of the seat is an excellent choice given that those are the portions that will get scratches, dirt, and nicks. The synthetic cover is easy to clean and maintain in areas like that on the furniture.
3) Split Grain Leather
Though split grain consists of 100% leather, it lacks the smooth texture and stylish appearances with natural variations in color and pebbling. Some people may not think of it as the best leather for furniture, as it is relatively difficult to maintain.
4) Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is the most sought-after leather for furniture because it offers the look and texture of leather for the cheapest price. Usually, it only consists of about 17% leather obtained from various scraps rolled up together using an adhesive material. Unlike the full grain leather furniture, it will never become smooth with age.
5) Nubuck Leather
People tend to confuse nubuck leather with suede because they both have a velvet-like surface. However, unlike suede (obtained from split leather), nubuck is produced from the full grain leather. This type of leather is lightly brushed or abraded to create a velvet-like plush nap. It is considered the best leather for furniture due to its soft, velvet-like touch and natural look. Though it is more durable compared to suede, nubuck leather furniture requires high maintenance, especially the velvety fur. You should avoid buying nubuck leather furniture if you have pets.
6) Bi-Cast Leather
Bi-cast leather is manufactured by blending split-hide leather or composite leather substrate and a coating of colored polyurethane. Thus, it looks like top grain leather, only it is a lot cheaper. Just like bonded leather furniture, it also lacks the wear or comfort attributes of top-grain leather. It doesn’t have the durability people often associate with top grain leather furniture, either. So, before buying bi-cast leather furniture, make sure you understand the pros and cons related to it.
7) Faux Leather
Faux leather is a great choice for furniture upholstery, especially if you are an animal lover. Though it is no match for high-end full grain leather furniture, faux leather furniture is durable and can last longer. It is also affordable, less prone to cracks and peels, can withstand scratches, is not susceptible to sunlight, and is stain resistant. Thus, it can be an economical and low maintenance alternative to natural leather.
Polyurethane (PU) vs Polyvinylchloride (PVC) Furniture
When it comes to buying leather furniture, people often use the terms polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) leather interchangeably. However, they are distinctly different. You must understand this difference if you want to get the best bang for your buck while purchasing leather furniture.
1) Polyurethane (PU) Leather
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Polyurethane leather is composed of polyurethane, bicast, or ground leather. Thus, it closely resembles natural leather.
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It provides a soft and flexible seating surface.
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It offers better breathability (vapor transmission), compared to PVC leather.
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The high-performance PU leather can quickly adjust to body temperature. It can remain cool even after sitting for long periods of time.
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However, it is susceptible to direct sunlight and humidity. Prolonged exposure can make it brittle.
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It comes with high abrasion resistance, durability, and inherent stain resistance.
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It is not naturally flame resistant. But, resistants are often added during the manufacturing process.
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Though it is more economical than natural leather, polyurethane upholstery tends to be expensive compared to PVC leather furniture.
2) Polyvinylchloride (PVC) Leather
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Though polyvinylchloride (PVC) resembles the softness, color, and texture of natural leather, it doesn’t contain natural leather at all.
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It is very durable and inherently flame resistant.
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It has a relatively better resistance to cleaners and disinfectants, compared to PU leather.
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Affordability and an excellent variety of color, texture, and grain are the primary reasons why this leather is the most popular one out there.
PU and PVC leathers are also known as faux leather and as they are not made from animal products, they can also be called vegan leather.
How to Identify Genuine Leather
Buying leather can be a challenging task. There are not only different types of leather but also different types of synthetic leather. Manufactures and leather shop owners are finding new ways to sell synthetic leather disguised as genuine. Fortunately, there are a few simple tips on how to buy genuine leather.
How to Identify Genuine Leather
Buying leather can be a challenging task. There are not only different types of leather but also different types of synthetic leather. Manufacturers and Shop Owners are finding new ways to sell synthetic leather disguised as genuine.
These simple 11 ways will help you to identify the Genuine Leather.
1) Check The Label First
The first thing you should do before trying any of the following tricks is to check the label. Most high-end leather product manufacturers will proudly give you information about the type of leather they have used to make the merchandise.
Most leather products have labels indicating different types, such as ‘genuine leather’ or ‘full grain leather.’ If you see dubious labels such as ‘manmade material’ or ‘made with animal products’, chances are, it’s not genuine leather. Avoid buying leather furniture or accessories without any tags. It’s a sure shot sign the manufacturer is trying to conceal the authenticity of leather.
2) Feel the Texture
Just run your fingers over the leather to feel its texture. As genuine leather comes from animal hide, it will have a varying or uneven texture. If the surface grain feels extra smooth, chances are, it is faux leather.
3) Look for Imperfections
Genuine leather exhibits an inconsistent surface pattern having minor imperfections. In other words, scratches, creases, and wrinkles are an indication of genuine leather
4) Warmth
Remember, genuine leather comes from hiding, which at some point, belonged to a living animal. That’s why genuine leather begets a cozy and warm feeling to your touch. Faux leather, however, feels cold and lifeless.
5) Elasticity
Just like any animal skin, genuine leather changes color when stretched and has better elasticity. If you press your finger firmly against natural leather, it will wrinkle under pressure. But, it will regain the original quickly. Faux leather, however, will retain the shape of your finger for a while.
6) Smell
Real leather has a distinct leathery smell. It retains the smell even after going through the tanning process. The synthetic leather material, on the other hand, smells like plastic.
7) Rough Edges
Whether you are out shopping for leather recliners or handbags, they will always have rough or coarse edges. As genuine leather is made of several layers, the edges often fray over time. Faux leather products, however, have smooth edges.
8) Moisture
Unlike its synthetic counterparts, natural leather readily absorbs moisture. Splash a drop of water on your leather merchandise. If it soaks up the water in seconds, chances are it’s a genuine leather item.
9) Fire Test
You have to execute this test carefully, as it will damage a part of your leather accessory. You can do this test on a hard-to-see area, such as the underside of your leather recliners. Burn the designated area using a matchstick. Genuine leather will slightly char and produce a distinct smell of burnt hair, while faux leather smells of burning plastic.
10) Check the Cost
Irrespective of how hard you bargain, genuine leather will always be expensive. When it comes to leather shopping, there are no cheap deals.
11) Understand Different Types of Leather
The more you know about leather, the better. So, try to understand as much you can about the different types. When in doubt, refer to this guide.
12) Wrapping It Up
Even the smallest things made of genuine leather are quite expensive. So, you have to put a lot of thought into buying leather products, big or small. The cost, quality, and aesthetics of leather depending on various aspects including the type of animal hide, tanning process, and finishing touches. Hopefully, this guide will address all your concerns from understanding leather grades and manufacturing processes to identifying and buying genuine leather. How about you? Have you purchased leather furniture or accessories recently? Share your experience in the comments section below.