Leather is one of the most sought after natural materials in the fashion industry and its demand keeps increasing with time. Owning high quality leather goods is a statement in itself that we love crafting. But how good are you with recognising the quality of leather products that are available in the market? There are so many different types of leather available with differing grades that it can get very confusing for even the best of us. How many times have you come across the ‘genuine leather’ tag on a leather product? Does that guarantee the high quality of the product? Well, we are here to answer these and some more questions for you to make an informed decision in future when buying anything leather.
What are the different types of leather?
In previous blogs, we have discussed the two types of leather on the basis of production process namely vegetable leather and chrome leather. Today, we will focus on the types of leather based on what layer of hide is used in the making. These are of two types: top grain leather and full grain leather. These two types of leather are very different in their quality, grade and making and it is important to understand these differences before you pick your next leather product.
Full Grain Leather
Before we talk about full grain vs top grain leather, let’s understand what is grain. The grain is the outermost layer of the hide or the part that is visible to us. It is the strongest layer and its fibres are densely woven. Full grain leather is made up of this very layer which is minimally altered with little or no sanding down to hide any imperfections. The grain imparts strength and beauty to the leather. Full grain leather is the highest quality of leather and is used to make long-lasting products. In full grain leather, all its natural markings and blemishes are visible which, it can be argued, also adds character to the material. In order to make sure that the leather you picked is actually full grain, you can use a magnifying glass to see the pores and small hair follicles or growth lines, small scars and shading in the texture. These notable characteristics are indicative of the high quality of your leather. With aging, this leather does not wear out, instead, it develops a unique patina that is impossible to duplicate. If you are looking for one reason why you should pick full grain leather above everything, it is that the more you use this leather, the better it becomes.
Top Grain Leather
Top grain leather is made by removing the outermost layer of the hide. It is sanded down, buffed and resurfaced in many ways to make it appear uniform. Some people may tell you that top grain leather is the same as full grain leather but that is simply not true. The former is of lower quality and carries more of a plastic look and feel to it. It is the second highest grade of leather and the alterations made to the leather make it more workable for the manufacturer but the sanding down of the leather to hide its imperfections, makes it weaker. To give it a uniform look, top grain leather is also applied with a finishing coat to protect it against the stains which are otherwise very apparent in full grain leather. However, the refinishing process greatly reduces the leather’s breathability, and also prevents the leather from developing a natural patina over time unlike full grain leather. The sanding also leads to a loss of the strong fibres in the hide, decreasing its durability which is why it is very important to properly care for delicate products made from top grain leather since they are very prone to scratching and other wear and tear. Top grain leather is typically less expensive and if you are looking for good finishing and uniformity in your leather products, top grain is your leather but if you are looking to invest a little more in a high quality, durable product that will last a lifetime, always pick full grain.
Check out Helmbrook’s website to pick your favourite leather products from a wide range of selections today!