The three different qualities of leather
The origin of animal leather is as old as human history. It is in fact the oldest form of recycling that exists.
Used at the time for its resistance against the cold, first as a roofing material and then as clothing, it became a staple and a bag.
Here are the three main qualities of leather that exist: full grain leather, corrected grain leather and split leather. The quality is proportional to the longevity.
Full grain leather:
This is the best quality. It combines aesthetics and resistance. Selected for its flawless appearance of the original surface, the characteristics of the skin are intact in terms of thickness and surface. It is treated with an oily, colorless aniline finish that protects the leather with a light film that deeply nourishes the hide, and a pigmented semi-aniline finish that tints it for added protection.
The fiber density is more intense in this upper part of the hide, it is more elastic and soft to the touch compared to the lower layers. And it gets better with time!
At Phi 1.618 we use full grain leather for our creations and wish to offer the best possible quality to our customers. What better way to express a divine proportion than with exceptional leather!
Corrected grain leather:
The original defects in this layer of leather are removed during tanning by very light sanding to make the surface smooth and even. The processes used for this type of leather remove the fibers, already less present than in the "full grain", which also reduces the resistance and elasticity. The natural appearance of the surface is lost and replaced by an artificial printed grain or a smooth topcoat that may fade over time. Less natural looking, it is suitable for intensive use and does not require much maintenance.
Leather is no longer called "full grain" because the grain has been corrected and it may not be suitable for all uses because the skin will be less qualitative.
The leather crust :
It is the lower part of the skin, the flesh side of the dermis. It is obtained by splitting the leather in two parts. The leather crust is often coated with varnish or polyurethane and printed to simulate full grain leather. This leather finish is stiffer and of much lower quality than full grain leather. It is thanks to this part that we create suede or suede which is only leather crust scraped to make it usable.
The price is the least expensive but its resistance and longevity will be much less.
To discover more, just check the labels of the leather goods you like so you can make an informed choice!
