Facts of Leather Furnishings.....

There has always been an interest in selecting leather for our home furnishings so I thought that with all the different options out there I would concentrate on the facts so that anyone contemplating such a purchase would be well informed prior to making the final transaction - the Payment!!  

We have all heard the phrase "You truly get what you pay for" and this definitely applies when buying leather furniture. High-quality pieces cost more, but their comfort and longevity make them a worthwhile investment. There are ways to save money without sacrificing style. If you’re simply looking for a display piece that won't get much use, consider bonded leather or leather-look as a lower-cost option. Or consider “leather match", in which some of the piece (like the back and sides, where physical contact is minimal) is made of dyed vinyl, and front-facing cushions and seats are made of high-quality leather. Research your options to find the best fit for your taste and budget

Genuine leather is highly desired for its fashionable look and durable nature. Cowhide leather is a term specifically applied to leather made from the hides (the skins) of cows, although it is generally used to designate any leather tanned from the hides of animals of the bovine species.

The natural or embossed pattern and texture of a hide's surface is called the grain. There are multiple types of leather grains to choose from, each with their own features and benefits.

In general, leather is sold in a variety of different forms -

Full Grain;  Top Grain ;   Split Grain;   Bonded;   Nubuk;   Suede;   Bi-cast;   

 Faux Leather - Leather Look;  Leather Match

 

Full Grain 

Full-grain leather is used in only the highest quality furniture. Only premium leathers are full grain. As such, it is usually the most expensive kind of leather furniture available This leather undergoes no processing or sanding to remove discoloration. Full-grain leather makes for tough, long-lasting furniture. If you have children and pets and anticipate using the furniture in high-traffic rooms, the durability of full-grain leather may appeal to you.

Full-grain leather refers to hides that have not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed no polishing and finishing is done to the grain   (as opposed to top-grain or corrected leather) to remove imperfections (or natural marks) on the surface of the hide. The whole hide is used, not just some layers of it.

Except for hair removal and soaking in some form of natural dye like aniline vegetable dye, it is basically untreated leather. Although there may be imperfections on the leather, as it retains all of the original texture and markings of the original hide, this kind of grain tends to look and feel better with time as well as creating an individual and unique appearance. The grain remains allowing the fiber strength and durability. The grain also has breathability, resulting in less moisture from prolonged contact, thus more comfort.

Rather than wearing out, it will develop a patina over time. High quality leather furniture and footwear are often made from full-grain leather. 

Full-grain leathers are typically available in two finish types: aniline and semi-aniline.

Top Grain

Top grain leather furniture will typically be more expensive, but will have an incredibly soft feel and will be long lasting.  Top-grain leather (the most common type used in high-end leather products) is the second-highest quality. The leather, otherwise known as corrected grain or full grain pigmented, is taken from the outermost upper layer of the hide, and is the toughest leather type; it is the only leather recommended to use for high quality sofas. Unlike full grain, top grain is usually buffed to remove any imperfections. The best top grain leather reflects that an animal has lived in an environment that resulted in limited scratches, insect bites or other damage.

It has had the "split" layer separated away, making it thinner and more pliable than full-grain. Its surface has been sanded and a finish coat added to the surface which results in a colder, plastic feel with less breathability, and it will not develop a natural patina. It is typically less expensive and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.

Split Grain 

Split leather is leather created from the fibrous part of the hide left after the top-grain of the rawhide has been separated from the hide. Split grain comes from the bottom part of the hide.   During the splitting operation, the top-grain and drop split are separated. The drop split can be further split (thickness allowing) into a middle split and a flesh split. In very thick hides, the middle split can be separated into multiple layers until the thickness prevents further splitting this leather is harder and cheaper than full grain leather. Split leather is comparatively more fragile and gets easily damaged if not handled properly. The process of tanning leather involves reducing the hide to the thickness required for upholstered products. The back of an animal has a thicker skin, so it is split to create a piece of leather out of this extra thickness. Split grain has a stamped and painted surface in order to have the appearance of top grain leather. This is often use on the sides and back of the furniture to allow a more affordable price point.

Bonded

Bonded leather creates a look and feel similar to genuine leather, but consists of a synthetic material made of polyurethane (PU) with leather scraps and fibres are mixed together, and then formed into a roll using adhesives or other bonding materials, then stamped with a grain-like pattern.   In fact, the manufacturing process is very similar to making paper. After the roll is formed, it goes under drying equipment to reduce the moisture content. Since it usually contains only 10 to 17 percent leather fibres, some industry experts do not consider it real leather and express concerns with it being marketed as such.

However, bonded leather does has its advantage as a furniture material. Firstly, it is highly durable. Secondly, it contains low levels of environmentally unsafe formaldehyde as it doesn't undergo chemical tanning and is therefore suitable for people with leather allergies. Lastly, bonded leather furniture is significantly cheaper than real leather.

Corrected-grain leather is any leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. The hides used to create corrected leather do not meet the standards for use in creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather. The imperfections are corrected or sanded off, and an artificial grain impressed into the surface and dressed with stain or dyes. Most corrected-grain leather is used to make pigmented leather as the solid pigment helps hide the corrections or imperfections. Corrected grain leathers can mainly be bought as two finish types: semi-aniline and pigmented.

The leather has all the imperfections removed and an artificial grain applied.

Corrected-grain leather is any leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. The hides used to create corrected leather do not meet the standards for use in creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather. The imperfections are corrected or sanded off, and an artificial grain impressed into the surface and dressed with stain or dyes. Most corrected-grain leather is used to make pigmented leather as the solid pigment helps hide the corrections or imperfections. Corrected grain leathers can mainly be bought as two finish types: semi-aniline and pigmented.

Nubuck 

This is top grain cattle rawhide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, giving it the appearance similar to velvet and suede. It has a more uniform appearance because the exterior is sprayed with a finishing agent. It is cheaper as compared to full grain leather. However, nubuck furniture is fragile in nature and requires careful maintenance. A waterproofing treatment is mandatory to keep the material looking good.

Suede

Suede is soft and fuzzy on both sides. Manufacturers use a variety of techniques to make suede from full-grain leather. Reversed suede is grained leather that has been designed into the leather article with the grain facing away from the visible surface. It is not considered to be a true form of suede.

Bi-cast 

Bi-cast leather is Split leather that has an artificial layer applied to the surface of the split and is embossed with a leather grain. It is made by gluing a sheet of polyurethane colour to a split grain. This product comes in roll form like fabric. Split leather is used as a backing so a customer can see or feel the leather. A finish is created by applying polyurethane (PU) to provide the colour, texture and strength.   Splits are also used to create suede. The strongest suedes are usually made from grain splits (that have the grain completely removed) or from the flesh split that has been shaved to the correct thickness.   It has the appearance of top grain leather, at a fraction of the cost. Bi-cast does not age well. In fact, it cracks and peels when exposed to too much friction. So, make sure that you purchase bi-cast furniture knowingly and not because you were led to believe it is real leather.

Faux Leather

As the name suggests, this is not real leather. It is man-made leather made from synthetic materials such as plastic and rubber-coated fabric. Faux leather has come a long way as the technology has resulted in great improvements in the material composition, thus increasing the comfort level of such sofas. It is durable, looks like original leather and is the cheapest type of leather for furniture.

Leather Look – Polyurethane & Vinyl 

(PU) is a very effective form of plastic that can be applied to fabric or other products to create beautiful, durable and lower-cost furniture pieces.  Vinyl is a product similar to polyurethane but normally not as durable or versatile. It is normally lower in cost than polyurethane so is used for match applications where strength is not an issue. This is often use on the sides and back of the furniture to allow a more affordable price point.

Leather-Match 

Leather-match furniture combines top grain leather on visible areas, like seats and cushions, with skillfully matched vinyl on the sides and back of the furniture. Leather-match looks and feels like leather, at a more affordable price.

Leather Finishes 

There are two ways of coloring upholstery grade leather - with dyes only or with dyes and pigments. Leather colored strictly with a dye is referred to as unfinished, whereas pigmented leather is classified as finished.

  

Aniline/Unfinished Dyed leather is when leather is colored only with dye then there is no protective coating. It is sometimes referred to as “pure-aniline” leather. (Aniline is a type of dye that colors leather.) This is usually a full grain leather that has been through the process of colouring using non-toxic aniline dyes. This leather is soft, supple to the touch. Its color is rich and deep, offering a uniform colour and as dyes are translucent and they penetrate, often completely through the leather. The leather’s natural beauty is accentuated by the dye giving the furniture a luxurious look and feel. Only the finest hides can qualify to be unfinished, so unsurprisingly, it’s the most expensive category. However, there is a dark side. This class of leather stains easily (these hides are highly porous) and the color fades, in some cases very rapidly. (UV’s the culprit.)

Protected Aniline 

Finished leather is colored with the same aniline dye as unfinished leather however these hides go through a secondary coloring process. The leather has been aniline dyed and then slightly pigmented to ensure colour consistency. It also makes the surface more durable than less-processed leather.  It has to flex and allow the leather to breath so it has unique attributes that differentiate it from common wall paint. Pigmented leather finishes are opaque, creating a colored film on top of the hide. The color coating is then augmented with a clear coat forming its primary protection. This clear coat also dictates the sheen, from gloss to matte. Quality finished leather may not feel as soft and supple as unfinished, but will be able to withstand the rigors of an active household. It won’t stain nearly as readily. It’s easier to clean, and fades so slowly, you’ll never notice it.

Pigmented

If you have children or pets at home, pigmented leather furniture is your best bet for great looking, long-lasting furniture. It is lower-grade leather dyed to hide all color imperfections. This gives the leather a shiny outer coat. It's stiff to the touch initially, but it softens with use. Pigmented leather is also resistant to stains and liquids.

   

Other Considerations 

Color selection is something else to think about. The lighter the color, the more maintenance it will require to keep the leather looking new and clean.

So, based on your budget, set your expectations correctly and think about how the piece will be used. Then when you shop ask the following questions.

Is the leather finished or unfinished? Remember to consider placement and usage patterns.

Is it top-grain leather? If it isn’t, it won’t have the durability you think you’re getting.

Is it all leather or is some of it vinyl? Don’t be duped.

How is the frame constructed? If it’s going to last, it has to be well built.

With the answers to these questions at least you’ll know what you’re buying.

Watch for a companion article on ‘What to look for in Sofa Construction’