by Leather | Leather Questions |
All types of leather fall under one of two categories: finished or unfinished. Whether you’re shopping for a new leather jacket, vest or even a pair of leather shoes, you should familiarize yourself with these terms. Finished and unfinished leather both consist of tanned animal hide. They are made using animal hide, such as sheepskin or cowhide, that’s been processed and tanned. Finished leather, however, undergoes a finishing process that distinguishes it from unfinished leather. What Is Finished Leather? Finished leather is characterized by the presence of one or more extra layers. Depending on the particular type of finished leather, these layers may be used to protect against the underlying leather from damage, or they may be used to change the color of the underlying leather. Regardless, finished leather features one or more extra layers. The term “finishing” refers to the creation of these extra layers. Manufacturers may perform a finishing process when producing leather. Finishing processes occur in the stages of production. After preparing a piece of leather, manufacturers may add one or more extra layers to it — a process known as finishing. What Is Unfinished Leather? Unfinished leather, as you may have guessed, lacks these extra layers. There are different types of unfinished leather, some of which are higher quality than others. But none of them have extra layers. Unfinished leather is plain leather consisting of animal hide that’s been processed and tanned. You can find countless products made of unfinished leather. Some of them are made of full-grain leather, whereas others are made of corrected-grain leather of nubuck or suede leather. Unfinished leather simply features...
by Leather | Leather Questions |
You shouldn’t believe everything you hear about suede leather. There are many myths surrounding suede leather that can lead you down the wrong path. Also known simply as suede, suede leather consists of processed and tanned animal hide with a napped surface texture. You can identify it by running your hands across the surface. With its napped surface texture, suede leather feels fuzzy. Other types of leather feature a smooth surface. Here are nine common myths about suede leather you shouldn’t believe. #1) Only Available in Cowhide Most suede leather is, in fact, made of cowhide, but you can still find it in other types of animal hide. In addition to cowhide, there’s lambskin, goatskin and deerskin suede leather. Each type of animal hide has its own characteristics. Cowhide, for instance, is prized for its strength and versatility, whereas lambskin features a softer texture. Regardless, suede leather is available in many different types of animal hides. #2) Not Real Leather Some people assume that suede leather isn’t real leather. After all, it doesn’t feature the same smooth texture as other types of real leather. Instead, suede leather features a napped or fuzzy texture. But suede leather isn’t faux or fake leather. It’s one of several types of real leather. Like all other types of real leather, it consists of processed and tanned animal hide. Faux leather isn’t made of animal hide. There are different types of faux leather, but they are made of a synthetic material. They typically feature a base layer that’s coated in a synthetic material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Suede leather doesn’t contain any PVC...
by Leather | Leather Jackets, Leather Questions |
Leather jackets aren’t designed exclusively for men. There are plenty of women’s leather jackets from which you can choose. They are available in the same real, high-quality leather materials. Women’s leather jackets are simply designed for women. Below are some of the most popular styles of women’s leather jackets. #1) Stretch Leather Blazer Stretch leather blazers are a popular choice among many women. Blazers, of course, are formal jackets. There are three primary types of formal jackets: suit jackets, blazers and sport coats. Suit jackets are the most formal, whereas sport coats are the least formal. Blazers fall in the middle. You can find blazers in a variety of materials, including leather. Stretch leather blazers are made of a semi-elastic leather material. With their elastic properties, they will stretch and contour to the shape of your body when worn. #2) Moto Leather Jacket Moto leather jackets have become increasingly popular among fashion-conscious women. The term “moto leather jacket” refers to a special type of motorcycle jacket. Moto jackets are typically smaller and more fitted than traditional motorcycle or biker leather jackets. You may discover that moto jackets have more fasteners than other types of motorcycle and biker leather jackets as well. All leather jackets have fasteners. Fasteners consist of hardware like zippers or buttons that are used to close certain parts of a jacket. Moto leather jackets, however, typically have more fasteners than other motorcycle and biker leather jackets. #3) Leather Trench Coat We can’t talk about popular styles of women’s leather jackets without mentioning the leather trench coat. Trench coats are long-length coats that are designed to protect...
by Leather | Leather Questions |
When shopping for a new leather jacket, vest, trousers or any other garment, you should pay attention to the type of leather from which it’s made. Not all leather garments are made of the same type of leather. There are different varieties of leather. Among the most popular and sought-after is napa sheep skin leather. Also known as napa lamb skin leather, it’s prized for its silky smooth texture. What is napa sheep skin leather, and how does it differ from other types of leather? Overview of Napa Sheep Skin Leather Napa sheep skin leather is a type of premium, real leather that’s characterized by an ultra-fine grain. It’s used to make many of the same garments as other types of real leather, as well as faux leather. Napa sheep skin leather simply has an ultra-fine grain, which is responsible for its unique properties. When viewing napa sheep skin leather from afar, you may assume that it’s the same as all other types of real leather. After all, it’s difficult to distinguish between napa sheep skin leather and other types of real leather. Only napa sheep skin leather has an ultra-fine grain, however. Other types of real leather have a coarser grain. Here are some common characteristics of napa sheep skin leather: Super soft and smooth textureVery flexible and pliablePremium, real leatherTypically tanned using chromium saltsClassified as full-grain leatherDevelops a patina over time Origins of Napa Sheep Skin Leather It’s known as “napa sheep skin leather” because it originated in the city of Napa, California. In the late 1800s, leatherworker Emanuel Manasse at The Sawyer Tanning Company created the...
by Leather | Leather Jackets, Leather Questions |
When choosing a leather jacket, you should consider the season for which you intend to wear it. You can typically wear most leather jackets year-round. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, you can’t go wrong with this classic form of outerwear. Some leather jackets, however, are better suited for certain seasons than others. By considering the following things, you can choose the right leather jacket for the season. Type of Leather Leather jackets are available in different types of leather, most of which can be classified as either real or faux. Real leather is constructed of tanned and processed animal hide, whereas faux leather is constructed of a synthetic material — typically a plastic or polyurethane base — that’s designed to look like real leather. If you’re planning to wear it during the cooler months of the year, you should choose a leather jacket made of real leather. Real leather is softer and suppler than faux leather. More importantly perhaps, it offers greater thermal insulation. It’s a thicker and heavier material, so it will trap more of your body heat when worn. For the warmer months of the year, you should still choose a leather jacket made of real leather. Suede leather is an excellent choice of material for the warmer months of the year. Suede leather is still real leather, so you can rest assured knowing that it’s soft and supple. Suede leather is thinner than other types of real leather, though, making it ideal for the warmer months of the year. Lining What type of lining does the leather jacket feature? All leather jackets are made...
by Leather | Leather Questions |
Have you heard of leather painting? When leather becomes severely faded, worn or otherwise damaged, painting may be used to restore it. Not to be confused with dyeing, it involves the application of pigment to the surface of the leather. Painting can restore leather back to its original color, or it can create an entirely different color for the leather. To learn more about leather painting and how it works, keep reading. Leather Painting Explained Leather painting is exactly what it sounds like it: the process of applying colored pigment to the surface of a leather garment. The pigment is the paint. If a leather garment is worn or otherwise damaged to the point where it no longer features its original color, it may be painted. Painting will improve the garment’s aesthetics by providing it with a fresh top layer of colored pigment. There are leather repair shops that offer painting services for many common types of leather garments, some of which include the following: Leather jacketsLeather vestsLeather trousersLeather shoesLeather boots Painting vs Dyeing Many people assume that painting is the same as dyeing. While both processes are designed to change the color of leather, though, they aren’t the same. The term “painting” specifically refers to the application of colored pigment to the surface of leather. The term “dyeing,” on the other hand, involves the application of colored pigment within the leather itself. There are two different types of dye used in the production of leather: aniline and semi-aniline. Aniline dye is completely soluble, meaning it dissolves in water. Semi-aniline is soluble as well, but it offers greater resistance...
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