Contrary to what the name implies, genuine leather is a descriptive term and does not necessarily refer to the highest quality of leather. What is genuine leather made of is a common question we get from customers sourcing the best leather materials for their products. This post will discuss how leather is made, what genuine leather is, and the benefits of using leather.
How Leather is Made
The leather making process is a lengthy, technical process that should be followed to the book with precision and care. Generally, leather can be made from animals’ hide, including sheep, goats, and crocodiles. Today, the most common hide used is gotten from cows.
The hides of the animal that should have been destroyed are used to make something meaningful to serve mankind. However, the hide’s quality greatly depends on the animal’s upbringing. For instance, cows that have been exposed to electric fences or bites from insects will have poor hide quality. A poor diet that contains grains can also affect the quality of hide.
In preparing the hide, first, you need to remove the skin and the flesh. This can be done with a fleshing machine or by hand. When the process is complete, you should be left with a clean white surface. The hide is placed in salt brine. This prevents decomposition, which can occur if the hide is not salted or frozen. The hide is kept frozen or salted until it is ready to be processed. It is soaked in water afterward to remove dirt or other impurities.
A chemical solution containing calcium oxide helps remove hairs that may be on the hide. This process is called a lime bath and takes up to two days. The hairs can also be removed by hand, although this process will take longer.
The soaking and bathing process allows the hide to double in size to about 4mm thick, making it possible to be sliced into two layers. The top part of the hide is used for the highest quality leather products, such as full-grain leather.
This is because the fiber of the top layer is tight and more durable. When properly handled, the top layer makes stunning leather. The bottom layer of the hide is of lesser quality and is ideal for top grain and split leathers. They are commonly used for shoes and bags.
What is genuine leather made of?
Genuine leather is one of the lowest quality leathers around and is made from the bottom of the hide. It is gotten from leftovers. Like ground beef you find in a meat shop, genuine leather is from leftovers. The product made from this kind of leather is only 10-20% real leather.
Genuine leather can come from any hide layer and is treated on the surface to make it look more consistent. It can be sanded or rubbed to remove surface defects before dyeing, stamping, or spraying for a finished look. It is commonly employed for belts and other related items.
A good indicator of the quality of leather you buy is the price. Many of the products you find in the market and stores are made from genuine leather. These products will not be as expensive as the top grain leather or full-grain leather counterparts.
The grades range in terms of durability, quality, and price. The first three leather grades are all technically real leathers, meaning they are made of authentic leather.
If you’ve researched “Genuine Leather,” you may have come across websites that claim it is the worst leather grade. That is just false. These websites confuse “Genuine Leather” with “Split Leather,” a genuine leather grade and the worst kind of leather quality.
Remember that “Genuine Leather” is a collective phrase for categorizing things made of real leather, similar to the term “car.” In terms of quality, a Ferrari and a Volkswagen are not comparable. Regardless, they’re both automobiles.
Leathers are the same way. As a result, it’s feasible that a brand will label a product as “Genuine Leather” even if it’s made of superior full-grain leather. People often ask if “Genuine Leather” is derived from a specific animal. “No,” is the obvious answer. As previously stated, “Genuine Leather” exclusively refers to genuine leather, regardless of whether it originates from cows, sheep, lambs, or other sources.
Unlike full-grain, top-grain, and split leather, Bonded leather is only partially manufactured of leather and does not qualify as genuine leather. Faux leather, which can be manufactured artificially or naturally, is another type of leather that should not be classified as genuine leather.
This distinction is significant for determining whether a product is priced reasonably and protecting vegan buyers from unintentionally purchasing a product made of real leather. Genuine leather is now labeled with an animal hide emblem and other indications as to the industry standard. It is frequently embossed or displayed on the lining leather of belts.
Advantages of Genuine Leather
You might be wondering if genuine leather has any benefits. Real leather products will undoubtedly be the preferable alternative for those with financial means. One advantage of genuine leather products is that they are less expensive. And this is especially beneficial in today’s consumerist culture, where a thing acquired last year has become undesirable.
This type of leather is very simple to maintain since all you have to do is clean it down with a damp cloth and then polish it with a conditioner or cream. This will help them last a little longer by preventing them from breaking and drying out as rapidly. If they do become scratched or dented, you won’t be able to cover them with cream like you would with a full-grain leather item.
Order Genuine Leather in Bulk
We are wholesale manufacturers of high-quality leather and have a team of leather experts who can guide you in choosing the best leather for your products. You can save money with bulk orders. Please send us a message via the customer contact form to bulk order your coral fleece fabric. We also offer customizable options to make them stand out. The lead time for these products is only two weeks.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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