Originally made from the skin of the chamois, but now made from oil tanned
sheepskin, widely used for washing cars, windows etc. Notable for its ability
to absorb large quantities of water.
Corrected
grain pigmented leather
Leather which has been buffed or sanded to remove surface imperfections
before having a surface coating applied. An artificial grain pattern is usually
embossed into the surface. See also full grain pigmented
leather.
Double
face
Sheepskin or lambskin with the wool still attached and sueded on the flesh
side.
Embossing,
plating or printing
The process of heat pressing an artificial grain pattern or some other decorative
pattern into leather.
Finished
split
A split which has had a surface coating applied and
has been embossed with an artificial grain pattern to resemble grain leather.
A finished split is not as strong as grain leather.
Full
grain pigmented leather
Leather whose natural grain surface has not been removed before applying
a surface coating containing pigment, although an artificial grain pattern
is often embossed into the surface anyway (see also corrected
grain pigmented leather).
Grain
leather
Leather which has its grain surface substantially intact, as opposed to
suede or split. Corrected
grain and nubuck count as grain leather because
only part of the grain layer is removed. The grain layer extends from the
grain surface to the hair roots.
Kid
leather
Originally leather made from the skins of immature goats but now applied
to glove and shoe leathers made from goatskins.
Mineral
tanned
Leather tanned with mineral salts such as aluminium, chromium and zirconium.
See also vegetable tanned.
Nappa
Soft full grain clothing leather.
Nubuck
Aniline leather finished by lightly buffing or sanding
the grain surface to produce a velvety nap. Nubuck has a much finer nap than
suede because the grain layer has a tight fibre structure.
Leather with one surface covered with a flexible film with a very shiny
surface, produced by application of several coats of daubs, varnishes and
lacquers.
Pigment
An opaque colouring which is mixed with a polymer to produce a coloured
surface coating. Dyeing leather is like staining wood while applying a pigmented
coating is like painting it.
Pigmented
leather
Leather which has received a surface coating containing pigments.
This surface coating can impart greater wear resistance, water resistance
and protection from staining. See full grain pigmented
and corrected grain pigmented.
Plating,
printing or embossing
The process of heat pressing an artificial grain pattern or some other decorative
pattern into leather.
Pull-up
leather(also known as waxy or oily pull-up)
A leather designed to lighten in colour when stretched, producing a worn-in
effect with time.
Semi-aniline
Aniline leather which has received a surface coating
containing a small amount of pigment. The surface coating helps impart greater
stain resistance.
Shaving
The removal of excess material from the non-grain side of a hide or skin
to obtain an even thickness.
Split
The result of splitting leather into layers. A split has no natural grain
surface and may be buffed to produce suede or have an
artificial grain applied to produce a finished split.
Suede
A leather produced by buffing or sanding a split to
produce a velvety finish or nap. The nap is not as fine as nubuck
because the fibre structure is looser without the grain layer.
Vegetable
tanned
Leather tanned with a vegetable extract. See also mineral
tanned.
