What is Quality Leather?

Quality leather is made from the top layer of animal hide or skin and is the best material used in relevant industries today. Split-grain leather fits this description most, but other leather types can be classified as quality, depending on how they are processed. Quality leather is processed naturally and free of chemical components, one of its most significant attributes.

Have you ever been in a situation where you can't figure out quality materials just by their looks? Well, we all have been there, especially when purchasing leather products. However, it is essential to find a way to identify them if you don't want to compromise on quality. This article will highlight the various types of leather while explaining their qualities and uses.

What is Leather Used for?

Leather is one of the most used materials in all aspects of life, and it has indeed shown to be worth the spotlight and attention it attracts.

You don't need to do much searching today to find items made of leather, and that's a summary of how widespread the material is. There's no doubt that we love our leather and believe in its outstanding qualities, no wonder we are always quick to patronize leather items.

Here are some of the most important uses of leather today.

Leather Clothing: The fashion industry has since adopted leather for manufacturing clothes, and it has not been a bad call. The material's flexibility and seamlessness mean it can be manipulated into the best outfits. Hence, unique leather jackets, pants, gowns, and dresses are on display in fashion stores today.

Leather Bags and Shoes: Still on the fashion industry's unending obsession with this fantastic material, you can find quality leather bags and shoes that catch the eye. These are more used for leather and are excellent fashion items for your collection.

Furniture: Another exciting leather product that appeals to the eye and feels just right is furniture. It is no news that leather is used for making furniture, and they have a reputation for producing the finest finishes. You can find outstanding leather couches, recliners, and chairs in your favorite furniture stores.

Leather Accessories: Leather has been revolutionized, and its uses have been expanded to accommodate other items like accessories. Leather is widely used to produce accessories like wallets, watches, bracelets, belts, gloves, notepad cases, keyholders, etc.

Top Qualities of Leather

Leather is made from animal skin or hide, which begs the imagination of how this material has grown to become one of the most used in several industries today. Of course, it passes through a series of manual and automatic processes before it can be called leather and is ready for use, but it is always worth the effort.

Leather ranks among the most natural materials and doesn't fail to exude excellence through its sublime finishes. But what makes leather so unique, and why does it attract much attention? It is undoubtedly because of its outstanding qualities that include;

Texture: Leather is generally soft. Although this is relevant to its thickness (thinner leather is softer than thicker ones), all leathers fit this classification. Hence, making it easier for manufacturers to manipulate the material into the excellent leather products we have today.

Water Resistance: Leather may not be the outright best in excellently finished materials, but this quality gives it an apparent edge in industries and markets. Leather is highly resistant to water and allows only a minimal amount through. This means the leather will stand unchallenged where other materials are damaged by water.

Durability: Leather may be soft, but it takes nothing away from its sturdy nature. Many may find it surprising that this soft and tender material can also be very durable. Well, leather is excellently processed to last longer and withstand significant pressure.

Types of Leather

There are different types of leather, and it is only natural to assume they differ in quality, which they do. Knowing the different types of leather will help you identify them better and tell the difference when buying leather materials.

Here are the different types of leather.

Split-Grain Leather: Also known as suede, this leather is cut from lower-level hide and is relatively lower quality than other types. It is also less sturdy but more flexible and supports more coloring and designs.

Genuine Leather: This is also not your typical quality leather, but it is of a higher grade than suede and can serve multiple purposes. Made from no specific hide layer, genuine leather undergoes sanding and buffing to remove imperfections. It is primarily used in the fashion industry for manufacturing clothes, shoes, leather bags, watches, etc.

Top-Grain Leather: A top-quality leather made from the top layer of the hide and processed excellently through sanding and buffing. Top-grain leather is considered high-end due to its quality. It can also be easily shaped or dyed, mainly used to manufacture leather bags, book covers, shoes, wallets, etc.

Full-Grain Leather: This leather is a clear favorite among leather fans and is the best quality leather available today. It is made from the outer layer of the hide and undergoes a natural production process to remove part of the imperfections. It is a durable leather used for manufacturing sturdy items, but the color may change with time due to its natural production process.

How to Identify Good Leather

We have already established that leather comes in different types and qualities. But the good thing about leather is that each type is entirely usable and appropriate depending on the item to be produced.

However, the bonded leather proves that not all leathers are pure, as they can be mixed with other materials to produce lesser quality results. If you are deliberate about quality, here are some expert tips to help you identify quality leather.

Quality leather is soft but sturdy and has a grainy feeling, unlike low-quality materials that are smoother.

Low-quality leather can stretch, while the best-quality ones do not stretch.

Real leather feels warm when you touch it, but low-quality leather is always cold.

Good quality leather has a legitimate smell, while the poor quality versions smell like plastic.

Conclusion

Leather is a widely used material today because of its quality which is evident in the products.

However, there are different leather qualities, and this article has highlighted each to help you select quality leather products.