Leather types
Leather Types
Crust leather
Crust leather has been tanned but not coloured. Also known as unprotected, naked or pure aniline. It is very difficult to clean and can stain very easily as it has no surface finish, coating or any type of protection applied.
Semi aniline leather
Also known as micro pigment leather. It has a light surface coating which makes it slightly more durable. It's called semi aniline due to the microscopic coating applied on top
Two tone pigmented leather
This kind of leather has been surface coated with a pigment in various shades in order to create a two tone effect. The top coat is very delicate and special care should be taken when cleaning it as it can be easily stripped away.
Aniline leather
Also known as non-pigmented leather. Most times they are dyed right through allowing the natural grain to show through. This kind of leather has a beautiful silky warm feel. Aniline has no surface coating to protect it and is susceptible to scratching and stains. Once stained, restoring aniline to brand new condition is virtually impossible.
Pigmented leather
This leather has been coated with a pigment colour. Which means it has been painted and sealed with a clear coat sealer which makes it quite durable. Can also be referred to as protected leather.
Rub off pigmented leather
Rub off is variety of pigmented leather. It is made with a contrasting top layer which can be partially rubbed off to reveal the underlying colour. Subject to colour change with use.
Nubuck
Produced with the grain side of the skin and using high quality leather. Can stain easily, even with simply dropping water. Grease and oils will prove very difficult to clean as they will get in the fibers and stain the leather permanently.
Bi-Cast leather
Bi-cast is a man-made material. Using a laminating process with a plastic sheet to split the hide, then it is backed with vinyl material. Blistering is common with this material, where the surface will start coming away from the vinyl substrate below
Split leather
Split is the bottom part of the leather hide. The skin is divided in over the entire surface. The quality is lower than that of the top grain leather. Since the fiber structure of split leather is not as dense, they are looser and pull out further when torn.
