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INSIGHT ABOUT GENUINE LEATHER QUALITY

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that leather comes from an animal. Cow leather is the most popular type of leather. The origin, age, gender, size, thickness, weight, blood vessels and even hair density of cowhide all these factors affect the price value and the performance of the leather goods. Many people comment that using leather is so cruel as to kill the cows. However, for a large numbers of foreign breeding industries, beef is the main source of their income. Leather is regarded as by-product. To some extent, it is also environmental protection. 

Although there have been developments in bioengineered and vegan leather, some functions may be even better than genuine leather such as waterproof properties. However, there are still some difference in terms of texture, hand feelings, and durability. 

The unprocessed hides removed from animals are called "raw hides", or simply called "skins". Unprocessed hides will decay in a short period of time. It becomes “leather” after undergoing some physical and chemical treatments process. 

When trying to understand the difference between full-grain, top-grain and split leather, the topic always quite confusing. 

To better understand the difference, it helps to look at the composition of a hide. There are essentially 3 layers to a hide. 

leather skin structure (2).jpg

The Grain

The grain is the top outermost layer of the hide. This layer of the hide is also the strongest, its fibers are very dense.  

The Junction

The junction is where the fibers start to loosen up a bit and the grain transitions to the corium or suede part of the hide.

The Corium (Suede)

The corium is made up of softer & looser fibers. It is also the weakest part of the hide. 

 

WHAT IS FULL-GRAIN LEATHER?

If the hide is a blemish-free hide, the very best way to use the leather is full grain. Full-grain leather refers to the full hide with all its layers intact - not sanded down. That means once hair is removed, the hide goes immediately into the tanning process.  

As all the oil-absorbing properties and original characteristics of the leather remain intact, whole thickness of the skin is used, full-grain leather is stronger and more durable. It also allows the natural marbling, texture and variety of color in the hide to come through fully. The leather will endure over time.

Altering the Hide

Since animals live outside, rub up against fences, get bitten by bugs, fight with others in their herd, and roll around on the ground to scratch their backs. When leather gets processed and the hair is removed, all scars, scrapes, and general imperfections are shown up which affect the quality grade of a hide. 

Once the top layer of the hide has been altered in certain ways, it is no longer full grain leather.  You could end up with top grain or split leather. 

WHAT IS TOP-GRAIN LEATHER?

The second highest-quality leather is top-grain leather.

This leather is probably the most used leather in handbags, where a pristine look is desired. The leather is named top grain because the very top layer is sanded, buffed or shaved off.  One being to start with a fresh top surface for a variety of finishes to be applied.  Another is to make the leather thinner and more workable for certain applications.

The stamping of textures and faux finishes of alligator, snake, and ostrich are often applied to cow hides prepared as top grain.

Top-grain leather is still always used for luxury goods. 

WHAT IS SPLIT LEATHER?

Shaving off the top layer can also be referred to as split leather.  The fibre structure is substantially denser in the upper layer of the grain side and is thus tear resistant. always refers to the less stable lower layer of the hide.  The fibre structure of split leather is not as strong as top grain leather. The tensile strength is much less. Therefore, split leather is sometimes coated with a PU film layer.  However, it is still applicable on some leather goods as the price is much lower. 

Hope this helps shed some light on leather quality!










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