Do you want to understand terms like “genuine” and “top grain” and learn how leather is tanned? This is the guide you need!

Quality leather goods, whether shoes, luggage, jackets, or furniture, can be an investment in future enjoyment. The right leather paired with the right application can last a lifetime. The price tag often reflects this.

So, when you are in the market for a leather item, it’s important to understand what you’re looking at because purchasing the wrong leather, or an inferior leather good, is really just a waste of your money; and it is a huge market. The leather goods industry will reach $271 billion by the end of 2021.

Learning about leather grading really means learning about three separate areas: the animal the hide comes from and what area the hide the leather is from, the splitting of the hide or initial processing, and how the leather is tanned and dyed.

All leather starts as an animal hide. Not only does the quality of hides differ, but the type of processing or tanning makes a difference in how the leather can be used, and how durable the finished product will be.

There are many terms bandied about, and it’s important to understand them because they describe the processing from wet hide to finished item and will give you a clue about the quality of what you’re considering purchasing. 

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These leathers are soft and work well for most needs. Heifers (females before calving) have hides that are softer and more pliable. Dairy cows have even thinner and softer hides, and finally, calfskin is the most supple and softest, with the tightest grain.

It has a lightweight feel similar to lambskin, although it is generally thicker.

You may have noticed that finer hides come from younger animals. The longer an animal is alive, the more there will be scars on the hide from scratches, insect bites, and wrinkles from fat.