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’
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