What is leather grain?
The leather grain is the topmost layer of the hide that makes up the surface. The term is also used when describing the embossed lines that can be seen on the surface of many finished leathers. Chesterfield Sofa There are three main types of grain in leather — let’s take a closer look.
Full-grain leather
- Fully natural appearance
– Visible natural blemishes aren’t to everyone’s taste
Full-grain leather has its upper layer left completely intact, free from any buffing. This allows the natural smoothness to shine through, and any scars or blemishes from the hide’s origin are preserved. It is commonplace for aniline leathers to use full-grain hides, though semi-aniline leathers can use either full or corrected grain.
Corrected grain leather
- Any blemishes are concealed by buffing
– Completely natural appearance lost
Corrected-grain leather has had its topmost layer buffed very lightly to flatten out any raised scarring. The appearance of imperfections is often concealed further with the addition of an embossed effect across the surface. It is usually the case that pigmented leathers use corrected grain hides.What is split leather?
Split leather is made when the original hide is sliced into two sections — the upper grain, which is used for upholstery; and the lower section, which has no hard-wearing surface. This undersection is known as split leather.
As this type of leather has no natural grain, it has a fuzzy, napped texture on both sides and is used to make suede items. There are some low-budget leather producers who will coat one side of the split leather heavily with a pigmented layer so that they can create an artificial grain on its surface. Though this type of material can appear to be acceptable, once used it will quickly suffer wear and tear. It’s best to avoid this type of split leather if you want a quality Chesterfield sofa.
At Timeless Chesterfields, we don’t use any split leather on any of our furniture. It’s also worth noting that some manufacturers might list their upholstery as being made with ‘genuine leather’. This usually means that the material is of the lowest quality and should be avoided if you are looking for quality.
Our expert team have developed a keen eye for premium leathers, which are sourced from the most prestigious tanneries around the world. Each shipment that we receive is meticulously inspected to ensure it reaches our quality standards.
Take the time to explore our expansive leather chesterfield sofas collection for yourself — we feel they represent the very best and most on-trend leathers on the market. There are a wide range of colours and textures to choose from, and each one will look spectacular on your bespoke Chesterfield sofa furniture. Make use of our sample service to order some swatches if you want to see and feel the leather before you order.
