Choosing the right leather for you depends upon your lifestyle needs and then
knowing a little about the different grades and types of leather. Below are a
few key terms and what they mean in selecting a leather grade for you.
Any grade of leather may be corrected grain. The
correcting process sands the natural texture off the leather and re-embosses
with the desired texture. Correcting is often used to salvage hides with
scars or other unacceptable marks. The correction does not effect the feel
but, common to this process is to use additional laquers or colorants that
do effect the feel and usability. A top coated hide is great for heavy use
when you need an easy to clean surface (Kids and Pets) -
Usually the best quality and most expensive hides available. Only a
small percentage of hides are good enough to be processed
into fully Aniline Dyed leather. This process soaks the dye color throughout
the hide. These hides may have a light protective coating but no color coatings
are used. Because the grain and coloration is natural, this grade is usually
used to showcase the beauty of leather.
Top layer of the leather with all the natural grain texture
and character imperfections.
Usually a full grained, aniline dyed hide of very high quality that
has little or no protective coating. Nude hides have a very soft, warm feel.
Nude hides also are very porous and absorb anything spilled on them. Nude hides
feel great but are not a practical choice for families with children. The leather
will last just as long but, will soil faster and be harder to clean.
Refers to leather with a slight protective top
coating. Usually high quality, top grain leather. Allows the natural character
of the hide to show through. Frequently, semi-aniline dyed leather is a good
choice for high use furniture. Degrees of top coating differs and will effect
the feel of the leather.
Refers to the top layer of the hide after being split. May
be left full grained or corrected by sanding and embossing. Splitting the thick
hides and using only the supple, thin top allows more flexibility in design.
Top grain only refers to the place in the hide where the leather came from
but, it is commonly used to indicate good quality. Top grain hides can be corrected,
top coated or nude