Have you ever wondered why some leather lasts for months… and others for years?
There’s a short answer and a long one. But the long answer is better.
At its core, leather is simple. It’s animal skin that’s been tanned. But what happens after the tanning process has a massive impact on how it looks, feels, costs, and most importantly how long it lasts.
If you want a deep dive into tanning methods, we’ve written about that here.
The Layers of Cowhide
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Full Grain Leather
This is the real deal. The grain is left completely intact after tanning, no sanding, no corrections. You get the full surface of the hide, imperfections and all. Only high-quality hides are used for this, because there’s nothing to hide. A top-tier piece of leather. It’s strong, breathable, and ages beautifully.
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Top Grain/Corrected Grain Leather
Corrected grain leather has had some of the surface lightly sanded to smooth out inconsistencies. It doesn’t weaken the leather. It’s done purely for a cleaner, more uniform look. This gives you that clean finish while still being high-quality and durable.
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Genuine / Split Leather
This is where the marketing term “genuine leather” is used. It sounds good, but it usually refers to the lower layers of the hide after it’s been split. It doesn’t have the more desirable grain surface, it also lacks strength and character. Manufacturers often emboss or coat it to look like full grain, but it’s not the same.
It won’t wear as well, it’s more likely to crack or tear, and over time, it just doesn’t hold up.
PVC / Faux / Bonded Leather
This stuff isn’t really leather. It’s leather scraps that are ground up, glued to a plastic backing, and embossed to look like the real thing. It’s cheap, weak, and destined for landfill.
You’ll find it on budget belts, furniture, and mass-produced goods. It looks fine at first, then peels, cracks, and falls apart.