There are a number of words that describe the different ways leather feels. One of the main descriptors is “hand.” In case you have never come across this word to describe one of the markers of leather quality, here are some ways to think about it. One of the most obvious reasons the word applies to leather is the range of experiences you will have when you run your hand over its surface. If you’ve felt your fair share of leather, you’ll know they can range in feel from extremely taut to remarkably supple. A full hand is used to describe a leather that is robustly full-bodied. You may also see this referred to as round hand or full round hand.
There Are Complexities with Each Hide
The word “grain” is used to describe conditions of the outside of the hide or skin of varied leathers. The grain consists of the cells, wrinkles, pores and other elements that constitute the natural texture of leather. Did you know the wrinkles in real leather were caused by fat deposits in the animal? These wavy lines give real leather personality, something lacking in imitation leather, which will help you distinguish the imposter from the authentic simply by noticing whether there are visible wrinkles on the surface.
The terms “full grain” and “natural grain” mean that the dermis, also known as the grain layer, has not been altered. It is the grain layer that gives each type of leather its distinctive appearance. An important characteristic of a full-grain leather is breathability. Due to its intact grain and pore structure, full grain leather breathes. This means that the leather adjusts to temperature and wicks moisture and body heat away so it is comfortable to sit on. If you see the leather referred to as enhanced full grain, this means there have been minor surface alterations to improve the grain appearance.
Special Treatments that Give Leather Its Feel
One of the most important aspects of fine leathers is called saturation, which means the maximum amount of fat liquors, dyes and tanning have been used during production to turn a high-quality hide into a fine leather. If you come across the term “buffed leather,” this means the grain has been removed by a bladed or abrasive cylinder, which results in the leather being altered or corrected. Altered or Corrected Grain leathers are often referred to as top grain.
Embossed leather means a pattern has been pressed into its surface by extreme pressure in order to give it a unique design. You may have seen floral patterns embossed onto leather, or a variety of animal skin patterns, such as alligator. If you see that a grain has been sueded, this means it has been treated to a buffing process to raise the fibers on the grain side of a hide or skin in order to give it a velvet-like feel. Grain sueded is also known as Nubuck leather.
When you see the terms table dyeing or brush coloring, this refers to hand-finishing leather by rubbing dyes into the surface or applying them with a brush. Our Butte leather collection is one of our offerings that has been hand-finished in this way to create beautiful undulations in tone. Our Cordero leather, shown above on our Cuomo Sofa, is upholstered before the meticulous hand-coloring and hand-finishing process begins. On any given day on our factory floor, you may see leather being hand-polished, hand-stained or brush-colored because we are known for our ability to customize leather in ways that make each piece of furniture we create a one-of-a-kind treasure.
