What is all this talk about Grain with Leather Furniture?
This can be one of the most mystifying things when looking for leather furniture but it does not have to be. It’s actually a very simple concept, when it’s explained:
Top Grain Leather Sofa at LeatherGroups.com
Cowhides are often too thick to use, so they’re split into two layers that result in a few different types of leather. When leather is split the resulting cuts are:
Top Grain Leather refers to the surface layer when leather is split. This is the strongest most supple part of the hide.
- Full Grain leather is leather from surface layer that is not mechanically altered. Natural grain and markings are left intact.
- Corrected leathers can be produced from the top grain surface layer as well. These leathers have had natural markings lightly sanded, or buffed and are embossed with a uniform grain finish.
“Splits” or “Split Leather” is used to refer to the lower, fibrous layer of the hide once the top grain surface layer has been removed. Splits are generally stiffer and less suitable for seating areas where flexibility is necessary. Often, at lower price points, splits will be used on areas of furniture that you don’t touch. Splits are also used to create suede.
Allergy proof your home!
We know fabrics can harbor dust mites and allergens, and in the Mayo Clinic’s piece about how to Allergy-proof your house, they write:
“Consider replacing upholstered sofas and chairs with furniture made of leather”
Read the full “Allergy-proof your house” piece on the Mayo Clinic website here
The Arizona Leather Sectional by Leather Trend
Leather Furniture is Healthier!
We knew it!
In Prevention® Magazine’s “Healthy Home” series in which they breakdown the best ways to have a healthier home, they recommend a leather sofa for the living room, stating:
“Unlike upholstery, leather and pleather won’t trap allergens, such as dust and pollen, and are easier to wipe clean.”
Read more about how to have a healthy living room in this series from Prevention® Magazine here
The Dexter Leather Sofa at LeatherGroups.com
What is the advantage to purchasing leather furniture?
Leather is a beautiful material, but its wide popularity in furniture was not built on appearance alone. Leather is specially tanned, colored and treated to withstand even the most active households.
The Reno Leather Chair
Leather has several properties which make it superior to other upholstery materials. It will not tear or easily rip, even along seam lines, unlike many fabrics used on upholstered sofas. When leather is dyed, it absorbs colors, which won’t fade, or rub off. Leather is fire resistant, and won’t emit toxic fumes, even when exposed to intense heat. Also, modern leather will not crack, or peel; instead it stretches and retains its shape without sagging.
There’s nothing quite like the rich smell and feel of leather. Leather will breathe and assume body temperature rapidly making it comfortable quickly. Leather also ages well, is simple to maintain and doesn’t require any special solvents.
It’s healthier! Fabric can attract allergens and dust mites, but leather does not. Leather is recommended by many experts, including Prevention Magazine® as a healthier alternative for your home.
Leather is a natural product, so each hide’s grain is unique, much like a human fingerprint. Natural markings such as wrinkles, scars and grain variations add character and style to leather furniture, and are indications of its natural origin.
What type of leather is best?
One of the most confusing things when looking for new leather furniture can be all the terminology involved. Here is a breakdown of some of the most pertinent terms used to describe leather.
Antique Roan Artisano Leather by Leather Trend
Full aniline leather gets its name from the type of dyes that are used to produce the leather’s color. Leather hides are soaked and tumbled in large stainless steel drums containing the translucent dye. This dye is absorbed by the pores of the leather and permeates without covering natural markings, or grain variations. Leather hides dyed this way will have variations in the intensity of color because of the simple fact that some hides, or even portions of the same hide, will absorb more dye than others. Surface finish is not applied, and because of this, full aniline leathers are more absorbent, and will age differently than others. Over time, the leather will develop a rich patina finish, giving your leather furniture a natural character and beauty.
Semi-aniline leather is dyed the same way as full aniline leather, but then enters an additional step. The surface of the leather is micro-pigmented to achieve more uniform coloration and create color consistency from hide to hide. Next, a protective topcoat is also applied to provide additional resistance to soiling and fading. There are a wide variety of colors available in semi-aniline leathers and they exhibit much of the softness associated with full aniline leathers.
Corrected Semi-aniline leather are leathers in which naturally occurring imperfections are buffed, or lightly sanded before embossing the surface to achieve a more uniform grain. The dyeing process is the same as semi-aniline leather, however some softness in the leather is sacrificed as a result of the buffing process. These leathers are easy to maintain and have great fade, soil and wear resistance.
