Everywhere you go, you see claims of “quality leather” or “genuine leather.” What does this really mean? Why does the price vary so greatly when they make the same claims? In this article we will explain what makes quality leather and what is worth paying for.
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Firstly, leather is simply animal skin and as long as it is animal skin they can claim that it is “genuine.” Clearly it doesn’t make any significant meaning to state that the leather is genuine. Most department stores and flea markets sell leather products for really cheap and they are usually lambskin. Lambskin is actually great for a garment because it is soft on the skin. These jackets are almost always patched up and have an internal lining to cover the patchwork. This is a good indication of poor quality leather products.
There are typically three grades of leather:
Full-grain: it is clear, clean and very smooth. There are no discolorations and it is over 90% yield.
Half-grain: the middle grade has a 78% yield and is not perfect in colour. The surface is also not perfectly smooth.
The lowest grade is less than 40% yield and is very stiff because many coats of preservers and colouring are used to hide all the imperfections.
Lambskin and cowhide are the two most common types of leather products available although alligator, ostrich, and even pigskin are used widely. Lambskin is very soft and smooth. It is also very delicate and not good for luggage or for utility purposes. It is most widely used for fashion and a higher class of style. It stretches well and can make a very comfortable fit. Cowhide is very different from lambskin. Cowhide is very tough and usually best used for utility purposes such as motorcycle jackets to protect against burns from sliding. Another good use is for firemen to protect them from extreme heat. There are much more uses for cowhide that are applicable not only in fashion but also industrial uses.
Another good tip to see if the leather is of quality manufacturing is to see if it is a dye or an aniline coating. A dye is simply a cover-up for inconsistencies on the leather while an aniline coat is just a protective coating that accents the true beauty of the leather product. Always ask how the leather was colored before buying or paying a good price for leather jackets.
