The Different Types of Leather and Their Qualities

Leather is considered one of the most luxurious types of fabric, and it is costly too. Moreover, it is comfortable and hypoallergenic (it does not harbour dust or dander from pests), and it adds an elegant look to your home. Notably, when you want to buy leather sofas for your home, there are certain critical factors that you need to consider including the type of leather you want, the cost, the design, the traffic in your home and so on. This article is going to focus on the various types of leather out there so that whenever you have to buy a leather sofa, you will have critical information about the qualities of the type you have chosen.

Full-Grain Leather

This is the most natural form of leather because it is the least processed. There is also no sanding or dyeing done, so the leather is raw. The grain and the corium remain intact. If the animal was scratched or cut or the skin was folded during its lifetime, the full-grain leather you buy will have these features. Because of the grain, the sofa will be tough and long-lasting as it will not wear or tear easily. Ironically, despite all these qualities, it is the least commonly used form of leather, probably because it is also the most expensive.

Aniline Leather

This is the same as full-grain leather except that it has been treated with aniline dye solution. As indicated above, full-grain leather is sold with all its imperfections. As such, aniline leather attempts to hide the imperfections with dye. It is also very costly.

Pigmented Leather

It is a form of aniline leather that has been coated with pigmented resin on the outer layer and a clear coating of resin on the lower layer. It is also known as finished leather. It is resistant to wear (some say it becomes better with age), tear, staining and fading. It is very resilient and durable.

Split-Grain Leather

This type of leather is made after the grain has been sanded so that only the corium remains. Sanding removes the first half of the leather (the grain), leaving behind the lower half (corium) that is not as tough. This process is known as drop-split. While it is strong, it is not as tough as full-grain leather. It is also cheaper than full-grain leather. When you buy genuine leather or sofas tagged as genuine leather, they are usually made from split-grain leather.

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