what is leather grain?
Leather is a natural material derived from animal skins and just like all other natural things, every piece of leather has some uniqueness. Every skin is different on its own and that does not end with the appearance but also other qualities like durability, breathability, leather texture and so much. The biggest contributing factor to the uniqueness of leather is the leather grain. So exactly what is leather grain, and how does it affect the other qualities of leather, we will discuss everything about leather grains in this article.
Table of Contents
What Does “Grain” Mean?
Grain is the natural surface texture and markings on the surface of leather. The grain involves the natural pores and hair follicles in the skin of the animal. In addition, leather grain texture can also include wrinkles, scars, or branding marks.
Now you may ask, how can this leather texture which seems more like a surface property that can affect the durability and overall quality of leather? Well, the simple answer is, that the skin fibers near the grain area are more closely packed and can provide high strength as compared to the fibers away from this area.
For instance, full grain leather is the strongest leather as it contains the whole grain layer near which the fibers are densely packed. The strength of the leather decreases as you go down the layer that is away from the grained surface which is designed by nature in such a way that it can bear the outside elements.
Full Grain vs. Top Grain vs. Corrected Grain
Grain of leather is the significant deciding factor in the types and grades of leather. Leather based on grain texture, is widely categorized into Full grain, top grain, and corrected grain leather. Here’s the detailed overview:
Full grain leather
The full grain leather retains almost all the grains of animal skin as it is the topmost layer which is least modified by surface treatments. It is the most strongest and durable kind of leather including all the natural imperfections and markings. Due to the presence of a grain layer, full grain leather consists of the highest density of leather fibers. In order to keep this beautiful natural grain texture, full grain leather is often dyed with aniline dyes.
Top grain leather
Top grain leather is created by removing some of the imperfections and markings on the full grain leather by various surface treatments like sanding and buffing. The removal of this natural texture varies and it is usually done partially to remove only significant imperfections of hide. I have seen some top grain leather types in which some of the grains were intact as they did not make a huge difference in surface finish. So top grain leather is also a good choice and sometimes even better as it also has high strength and an even leather texture.
Corrected grain leather
The corrected grain leather is a broad term and it does not give information about the quality of the leather and the purpose of correcting the grain texture. Most of the time grain correction is done to make leather more smooth and even but sometimes it can also be done to mimic a high-quality grained leather which involves processes like embossing. For instance, low-quality leather splits are coated with Polyurethane and embossed to mimic real leather grain texture. Corrected grain leather may or may not contain the properties of high-quality leather and you should do your complete research before buying this type of leather and you should always consider a reputed leather supplier.
Quality and cost of leather
Well, there are several deciding factors when it comes to quality and cost of leather but grain structure also plays a significant role in that. For instance, the type of leather that retains the most of the grain structure is known to be the highest quality and bears the highest price tag, that leather is nothing but our good old friend, full grain leather. The quality and cost of leather keep on decreasing as we go away from the grain layer to the top grain, corrected grain, and then split leather.
Durability and Strength
You may have got a clear idea who is the winner here, well let me remind you! Full grain leather due to the presence of a whole grain layer is the most durable leather and possesses exceptional strength. For instance, vegetable tanned full grain leather can last at leather 2 decades and it can even serve a lifetime if properly taken care of. Not only durable, but real gets better with age. It is a timeless luxury material which you can enjoy for a long long time.
Comfort and Feel
In terms of comfort and feel, full grain leather is a loser. Yes, you heard me right! Grained leather is indeed high-quality leather with a luxurious feel like no other material but it also lacks comfort and there are two major causes of that discomfort. Here’s the overview:
Stiffness
The stiffness of full grain leather is higher compared to top grain leather and top grain leather feels stiffer than the split leather which is even less strong than the full grain and top grain leather. Though this stiffness can be easily overcome by breaking in the leather which doesn’t take much longer they are not as soft as the split leather for instance suede leather is very soft and comfortable to wear.
Breathability
The second most important factor that decides the comfort and feel of leather is breathability and it is in fact much lower in the case of full grain hide and top grain hides when compared to suede or split leather types. Due to the closely packed fibers in the full grain leather, it is much less breathable than split leather but its durability and feel can discount everything for good
Appearance and Aesthetics
Leather texture and grains are the most significant factors when it comes to the appearance and aesthetics of leather. Full grain leather has some awesome surface properties which can make it a few classes apart from other leather types and its faux leather counterparts.
Patina
Full grain leather or simply grained leather due to the presence of pores and hair follicles on the surface tends to develop a gorgeous surface patina and it keeps on getting better with time and usage. Patina is a rich, dark, and nonuniform color that is developed due to moisture and oil absorption throughout the years of usage. Not only this but leather also gets softer and smoother which makes it a truly timeless piece of luxury.
Leather Texture
As discussed above, due to the presence of natural grains every leather type has a unique texture of its own and this texture can be natural or it can be due to outside factors, or both. Leather enthusiasts like me love the surface imperfections of full grain leather such as branding marks, insect bites, scratches, and many more as they not only give a unique character to a hide but also ensure the leather is indeed of the highest quality that is full grain leather.
Conclusion
In conclusion, If you ask me if real leather has any alternative, I would say that real leather holds a special charm that cannot be replicated by any artificial material. Leather’s natural essence and the uniqueness of each skin give it an irreplaceable character. While some cheaper options like bonded leather and faux leather are available, can they replace real leather? In my view, nothing can replace the authenticity of natural leather.
If you have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comment section, and for more information on leather products, you can check our other articles or you can contact us. LeatherBlues is known as one of the best stores for real leather products. Explore our amazing collection of leather garments and services.
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