When You Are In The Market It Pays To Know Your Leather
Are all leather sofas the same? Not at all. So if you are thinking of buying a leather furnishing you would do well to understand all the different types of leather and how it might influence your choosing. Leather is a popular material for furniture due to its durability, comfort, and luxurious look and feel. There are several different types of leather used in furniture making, each with its own unique characteristics and advantages. So here is everything you wanted to know about leather furniture.
Full-Grain Leather: Full-grain leather is the highest quality leather that can be used for furniture. It is made from the entire thickness of the animal hide and has not been sanded or buffed to smooth out or fully remove excessive natural markings like brands or scars. This results in a natural look and a durable surface that develops a patina over time.
Top-Grain Leather: Top-grain leather is also made from the top layer of the animal hide where the fibres are densely packed and interwoven. This soft, supple layer is the most durable part of the hide. It is often sanded or buffed to remove imperfections, resulting in a smoother surface. It is still durable, but not as natural-looking as full-grain leather.
Corrected-Grain Leather: Corrected-grain leather is made from the lower layers of the animal hide and has been treated with an artificial grain to give it a smoother, more uniform appearance. It is less expensive than full-grain and top-grain leather, but also less durable.
Split Leather: Split leather is made from the lower layers of the animal hide that have been separated from the top layer. It is often used for suede and has a softer feel than other types of leather.
Aniline Leather: Aniline leather is a type of leather that has been dyed with soluble dyes without any pigments or surface coatings. A colourless chemical is added to transparent dyes that enable them to fully penetrate the thickness of the hide. This hides any imperfections which results in a natural look and feel, but also makes it more prone to stains and fading.
Semi-Aniline Leather: Semi-aniline leather is similar to aniline leather but has a light coating of pigment or clear finish applied to it to increase durability. The process combines aniline dyeing with the application of a protective, pigmented coating that enhances colour uniformity and soil resistance.
Nubuck Leather: Nubuck leather has been buffed or sanded to create a soft, velvety texture. It is similar to suede but is made from the top layer of the animal hide rather than the lower layers.
Faux Leather: Faux leather, also known as synthetic leather, is a man-made material that looks and feels like leather but is typically made from plastic or vinyl. It is less expensive than natural leather but also less durable.
When shopping for leather furniture, it's important to consider the type of leather used and its durability, as well as your personal preferences for look and feel.
Some other terms to know:
Tanning: A process using chromium salts to preserve hides and prepare them to absorb dyes.
Pigment: An opaque colouring agent
Buffing: Smoothing out or removing excessive natural markings like brands or scars.
Embossing: Using heat or high pressure to stamp a design into the leather, or restore natural-looking grain after the leather has been buffed.
Hand: The feel or softness of the leather.
Most leathers are split. The top half or "Top Grain" are used in high-quality furnishings.
The bottom half is called "Split" and is used on lesser quality products, also on the sides and backs of leather furniture, and is also commonly referred to as "Genuine" leather.
So always look for "Top Grain Leather".
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