Types of leather and quality 

Naturally, the quality of leather is not the same for all pieces of leather. Since it is a natural, unique material, the quality varies highly. The leather is affected by several factors. Firstly, the leather is affected by the life of the animal, such as the location, climate etc., which the animal has lived in. Secondly, the pieces of leather from different parts of the animal, i.e. the part of the hide from which the leather was cut, also vary in quality. Thirdly, the quality of the leather is also influenced by which layer of the hide is used. These are called split, top grain, full grain etc. Lastly, the quality of the leather is also affected by the quality of the tanning process. All these factors can affect the durability of the leather as well as its appearance and the price, and it is thus clever to investigate a piece of leather according to these factors before purchasing it.  

The life of the animal affects the quality of the leather in that both environment and location has an impact on the thickness of the skin, the amount of hair, the appearance of insect bites and scars etc. The climate affects the thickness and such, since some animals have lived in cold, rough climates, which the skin has adjusted to. The leather from animals, which lived in warm climates, is often marked by more insect bites and more scars.  

Another factor, which influences the quality of the leather, is the different portions of hide, since some parts of the hide generate higher quality hide than others. Generally, lower portions, including legs as well as neck and head, tend to have looser fibers, which swell and sponge when they become wet. Also, the lower portions are more often marked by scars and insect bites, and there are many wrinkles around both legs, head and neck, which often become permanent. Therefore, the upper portions, the back etc., are of higher quality in general. 

The fact that there are different layers of the hide is also an influential factor when it comes to the quality of the leather. The four general types are full grain leather, top grain leather, corrected grain (split) leather, and bonded leather.  

Full grain leather includes all the grain and is from the top layer of the hide. There are no surface alterations, which means that the leather has its tough, raw look and all natural marks, scars etc. are visible. This type of leather comes at the highest price, since it is the leather of highest quality. This type of leather also develops a patina over time, which is a very popular characteristic.  

Top grain leather is also of very high quality – it takes the second place after the full grain leather. Here, the top layer is split and blemishes and marks are removed from the surface of the leather. Top grain leather is often used for handbags, jackets etc., and it is both strong and durable. The processing of this type of leather makes it smoother and more flexible compared to full grain leather. 

Corrected grain (split) leather is made from the layers under the top. The top layers are split off and the surface of the corrected grain leather is also treated with sand to get rid of all marks and imperfections. This type of leather is usually painted with a paint that gives the surface a leather-like look to make it look like a high-quality product. 

Bonded leather is the type of leather of the lowest quality and it is thus also the cheapest form of leather. The bonded leather is made from different leftovers from the hide, which are bonded together. The percentage of leather is not indicated, unless it is stated by the producer. This type of leather is also painted in order to look more like high-quality leather.  

When purchasing leather products and materials, be aware what type of leather it is. You can read about the product or ask the seller or manufacturer. If you are trained and have a very good eye for it, you might be able to distinguish between some of the different types yourself. A good start is to be able to distinguish between genuine leather and faux leather.