Leather Categories
Embossed Leather
Any pure aniline, aniline, semi-aniline or pigmented leather embossed with an artificial pattern. Patterns include those designed to imitate non-bovine animals such as crocodile, stingray, ostrich, etc. or a decorative design such as basket weave or geometric pattern.
Antiqued / Tipped
The process whereby skilled craftspeople hand-rub a contrasting color onto the surface of the leather during the finishing process to simulate aging or accentuate the natural grain or embossing. This can be a darker dye added just to the tips, or the deeper color can be pushed into the valleys between the peaks. When hand-wiped and finished with waxes in the milling process, a gorgeous antique look can be made.
Suede
The second-level horizontal split of a leather hide, aniline dyed in the drum and trimmed to include only the usable portion. May be treated in the drum for water resistance but otherwise is similar to a pure aniline in terms of finishing processes and performance. Suede has a velvet-like nap and typically average 18-22 square feet. Recommended usage is for low-traffic areas with minimal risk of stains and spills.
Nubuck
Top-grain, premium-quality hide from the top 3-5% of all hides, Nubuck leather is aniline-dyed in the drum and buffed to create a soft and velvety nap. May be treated in the drum for water resistance but otherwise is similar to a pure aniline in terms of finishing processes and performance.
Metallic / Pearlized Leather
A semi-aniline or pigmented leather finished with coats containing metallic flakes to give a unique sheen.
Hair on Hide
A hide where the natural hair has not been removed in the tanning process. Hair length could vary naturally or through trimming and the hair color could be natural or dyed.
Shearling
Shearling is a skin from a recently shorn sheep or lamb that has been tanned and dressed with the wool left on. It has a suede surface on one side and a clipped fur surface on the other.