What types of leather are there?
Not all leather is created equal! Leather is a natural material that can vary depending on the animal species, intended use, tanning method, or type of dyeing. Since leather is a high-quality material that can accompany us for a very long time, we pay particular attention to the quality of our leather when manufacturing our Leather bags to process the material carefully and gently.
The many different types of leather can generally be divided into two groups: smooth leather and suede. Smooth leather uses the thin surface of the hide. Smooth leather is more natural than suede and, despite the term "smooth," always has some degree of texture and grain, as the hide's structure, such as pores or wrinkles, remains visible. Suede (mainly suede types, such as nubuck or velour), on the other hand, is sanded (roughened) before further processing, giving it a less natural look with a uniform texture and a velvety feel.
In this blog post, we'd like to introduce you to the most popular leather types and those we use. Enjoy exploring!
Smooth
Smooth (also called soft leather) is gently smoothed cowhide and a particularly high-quality type of smooth leather. This type of leather is characterized by its durability and glossy surface, as well as being very easy to care for. The soft leather is gently dyed in a drum.
Distressed (vintage) leather
Vintage Distressed leather is very similar to Smooth in its properties and texture. A further finishing process during production gives it a special "creased" or used look.
Macumba
For this leather type, classic full-grain cowhide is coated with oil and wax. It retains its classic grain, however. The appearance of this type of leather is therefore highly individual, depending on the material used. A characteristic feature is the leather texture, which, like vintage distressed leather, also appears slightly "creased."
saddle leather
Saddle leather refers to leather types that are particularly strong and stable. Saddle leather is a very robust and weather-resistant material. It is made from tanned cowhide. Due to its shape retention, saddle leather is often used for Bicycle or briefcases We have used this type of leather for our stylish university or business bags and Satchels the brand Sid & Vain discovered because this material is so easy to care for and durable and the products retain a consistently beautiful shape even after extensive use.
Nappa leather
The well-known nappa leather, also called floater, is a particularly soft smooth leather that, like all smooth leathers, comes from the grain side of the animal hide. Nappa leather was originally only the name for glove and clothing leather, named after the Napa Valley in the USA. Today, however, nappa leather is a collective term for almost all smooth leathers of many animal species and for many purposes. Cowhide is often used for the production of upholstered furniture. For the production of clothing and Bags The particularly soft nappa leather from sheep or calf is usually used. There are no particularly clearly defined boundaries for the term nappa and therefore there are Bags and other nappa leather products in a wide range of colours and designs. Our new Backpack MARTHA The in-house brand BACCINI, for example, is made of blue, nude or black soft nappa.
Vintage leather
Vintage leather is a particularly natural and very high-quality smooth leather, refined only with wax and oil. The natural quality of this leather is particularly valuable when processing this type of leather, which enhances its robustness and makes it even more durable. The oils and waxes beautifully emphasize the leather's natural, soft shades, creating elegant, subtle color variations. Characteristic of "Vintage" is the slight lightening of the leather over time, as well as the visible signs of wear that become apparent through bending and stretching. This creates a wonderful, unique patina (a surface created by natural aging) and a beautiful vintage look. A selection of bags and accessories from our high-quality "Vintage" range can be found here.
Aniline leather
Aniline leather is one of the finest types of leather. During the processing of aniline leather, the animal hides are dyed with a single color throughout. The natural look of the leather, with its characteristic surface characteristics, is nevertheless preserved. This is also referred to as "full-grain leather." The name aniline comes from the dyes used in the coloring process, which are often plant-based. A selection of bags and accessories made from our high-quality aniline leather can be found here..
Buffalo leather
Buffalo leather is often classified as aniline leather. It is very robust and characterized by coarse pores in its surface. As the name suggests, this material comes from buffalo that live either in swamps or rivers. Due to its durability and exceptional texture, buffalo leather is very popular for Buffalo leather backpacks and Buffalo leather travel bags. For example, our backpack CHAZ or the beautiful travel bag CHAD in a noble olive green from the in-house brand Sid & Vain
Suede
Suede is a type of rough leather. Today, most rough leathers are referred to as suede, regardless of whether they actually come from wild animals such as deer or roe deer. Nubuck leather, for example, is cowhide leather that has been roughened using a special process and is a type of suede. Suede feels very similar to velvet. It feels somewhat rough, yet also soft. Suede that is not smooth can be identified by the so-called "writing effect." When touched, the fibers change, leaving a visible imprint.
We hope you've learned a little more about the different types of leather and found your favorite!
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.