Leather has been a part of human life for centuries, not only popular for its durability but also for its timeless appeal. The leather is made from animal hides and used for protection and style, offering practicality and sophistication. Today, it is a popular material and used for making everything from fashion to furniture. However, with different types of leather available in the market identifying the right type can be a challenging task.
Therefore, to make informed choices, understanding the types of leather is important. Their strengths, weaknesses, and common imitations will help you to distinguish genuine quality from misleading alternatives. Thus, in this blog post, I will discuss the top 5 main types of leather, their quality levels, and explain their grading systems one by one.
How Leather is Made?
Leather is made from different animal skins. Known as a hide, which is light, and strong and can be used to create different types of leather jackets, fashion accessories, and footwear. Before it is made into leather, the hide goes through a process such as:
- Curing and fleshing to remove salts and fats
- Curing and fleshing food to get rid of salts and fats
- Use a knife to cut the meat from the top grain
- Drying the hide to make it bigger and softer
After this process, the hide undergoes tanning using either chromium salts or vegetable based extracts before reaching the finishing stage.
5 Different Types of Leather and Their Quality Levels
Below are the 5 different types from the highest quality to the lowest, along with their grades and level.
Full-Grain
Full-grain is top and High-quality leather, among others. It gets its name because it has the entire grain. This type of leather looks incredibly real because it has not been finished or split. Their characteristic is one of the reasons it is quite popular. Furthermore, the scent is the most noticeable feature, setting them apart from others and commonly used to make furniture, footwear and leather jackets.
Top Grain Leather
Top-grain leather is similar to full grain. But it comes from the hide's second layer. One bold difference of this leather is that it is buffed to remove flaws, making it smoother and comfortable to use. Top grain is also known as the high quality leather and popular for its softness.
Corrected leather
The corrected leather is another name for genuine leather. This leather is the thickest and most robust. The baffling and sanding process is used to make the surface of this leather smooth and give the final look by spray painting, or dying. Despite its lower grade, it still offers many advantages that make it popular among other types.
Suede Leather
Suede leather is less durable than real leather and easily damaged by water. This type of leather is commonly used in creating jackets, including men's suede jackets and women's suede jackets. Besides, it has an eye-catching appearance and soft feel that adds a touch of luxury to any product.
Sheepskin leather
Sheepskin is soft and lightweight and known for being comfortable and flexible. This leather comes from young sheep and is used to create different things including winter jackets, gloves and hats. It is warmer than other types of leather, making it a popular choice for cold weather items.
Understanding of Leather Hide
Leather hide comes from the skins of different animals. It acts as a natural shield, protecting the animal's organs from harm and external elements like the sun and water.
Grain of Leather Hide
Grain refers to the top or outer layer of a leather skin. Its fibers are relatively close together and strong. When the hair is shaved, the grain layer is exposed which is quite strong and smooth.
Grain and Inner Layer of Leather Hide
The connection between the grain and Inner layer is the transition between the compact outer layer of the leather and the interior corium. This interface connects the highly desired grain layer to the less densely packed fibers of the corium layer.
Corium Layer in Leather Hide
The main part of the corium in animal hides is collagen fibers. These are more flexible than the grain layer. This layer is, however, important in the leather manufacturing process. It is the thickest layer of most animal skins. So, even after a hide has been split, some top grain or real leather products may still have small amounts of corium.
Flesh Layer of Leather Hide
The flesh, or back of the hide, mostly comprises muscle and fat. It's not very valuable as a type of leather finish, so it is usually split to get rid of the top layers. This creates different types and qualities of material that can be used to make leather goods.
Different Levels and Grades of Leather
Leather comes in various levels and grades offering multiple qualities and durability.
Grade 1 Leather Hide
This is top-tier and free from major flaws such as cuts, holes, or scars. The exterior part of this hide is clean and smooth, making it perfect for high-end leather products.
Grade 2 Leather Hide
This may have some small holes or cuts, which can be easily trimmed without wasting much of the material. The holes should not be bigger than five inches across, and any other flaws in the grain should not be bigger than a square foot. Around 15% to 20% of hides fall into this group. Still they are still suitable for creating quality leather goods, especially men’s leather jackets.
Grade 3 Leather Hide
The level 3 hide has some bigger flaws including multiple large holes or cuts. These flaws are usually straight, so they can be cut out without removing much of the hide's space. Even with these problems, grade 3 leather is used to create different products such as budget-friendly furniture, belts and wallets.
Untanned Leather Hide
This will never meet the standards of Grades 1, 2, and 3. Grade 4 hides are either too damaged or have too many flaws. But instead of being sent to tanneries, these hides sell them to the market so they can be used for other purposes.
Choosing Between Different Types of Leather
Each type of leather offers unique characteristics that make it suitable for specific reasons. Some are strong and long-lasting, while others are soft and stylish. Each type serves a different purpose, making it a versatile material for many products.
Full Grain Leather
Due to its strength and natural markings. It is best for durable and long lasting leather goods like bags, leather jackets for women, and wallets.
Top Grain
Ideal for making leather bags, belts, and wallets. It offers a polished appearance at a more affordable price.
Genuine Leather
Commonly used to design casual footwear, and leather furniture. Offers affordability but may lack durability.
Suede Leather
Suede Grain is ideal for creating stylish jackets, and accessories. It offers a soft, luxurious texture and a more elegant look.
Sheepskin Leather
It is perfect for warm jackets and gloves due to its warmth and softness. And becomes one of the best picks for severe winter attire.
FAQs
What is the most common leather?
Cowhide is the most common leather. It’s strong, and thick and has been the best choice for classic motorcycle jackets since the 1920s.
What kind of leather is considered the best?
Full grain as it is the top layer of the animal hide and known for its durability and natural grain patterns.
What is the difference between full and top grain?
Full grain keeps the hide’s natural texture, top grain has the flaws treated out so it has a smoother finish.
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