There is much confusion about the so-called Full-Grain, Top-Grain and “Genuine” Leathers used in clothing, furniture and accessories. We hope the following comments from an Amazon reviewer will help clarify some of the biggest misunderstanding among today’s consumers concerning the different grades of leather. This introductory lesson on leather grades will help our consumers make a sensible choice when it comes to purchasing leather products.
“A quick lesson: There are three main grades of leather that are extracted from a hide (not including bonded leather)…
Full Grain – This comes from the outermost layer of the hide and includes all of the grain (hence the name). Some characteristics include noticeable markings of the animal like scars & wrinkles, a tougher and more durable feeling texture, a tendency to develop a nice patina and age well with time, and a slight water resistance. This is the best leather that money can buy, and this is what this bag is claimed to be!
Top Grain – This is the layer removed from the outermost layer of the hide. The top layer of the leather is sanded and shaved off. Gone are the typically noticeable markings that might have been present in full grain leather. While this leather is still somewhat durable, it no longer contains the strongest fibers, which is why this grade typically does not age as well. This is slightly softer than full grain leather, and it has a much more uniform surface.
Genuine Leather – This is one of the biggest shams in the industry as it fools many consumers into thinking that “genuine” denotes high quality. This is far from the truth. This leather is what is left after the better parts of the hide have been stripped off. All that is left is the weakest corium layer of the skin. This material is imprinted with fake wrinkles and pores to resemble higher quality leather. Genuine leather is generally soft to the touch, highly water absorbent, easily damaged, and it ages horribly.”
So we have learned a quick lesson on what to expect about the qualities of products made from the three types of leather. Another blog post An Overview Guide to Leather Grades compares (with pictures!) the feel, look and quality of top grade full-grain leather used in Vagabond Traveler leather products with those of some popular, but lower-quality leathers, like top-grain leather, suede, genuine leather and bonded leather.
