by Leather | Leather Questions
Leather is arguably one of the most prized and sought after textiles in the world. Its unique combination of style, strength, durability and visible aesthetics makes it an attractive choice for jackets and other garments. But just because a jacket “looks” like it’s made of leather doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. Many companies use fake (also known as faux) leather to mimic its appearance and characteristics. So, how can you tell the difference between real and faux leather? Check The Edges Inspect the edges to see whether they are the rough or clean. Faux leather is often made with clean-cut edges that are completely symmetrical, whereas genuine leather features rough edges and corners with visible imperfections. Of course, some products won’t have edges, so you’ll have to look at other elements to determine if it’s real or not. This method alone isn’t a fool-proof way to determine the authenticity of leather, but it’s one more tool that can help. Smell It You can often determine whether a leather product is real or fake simply my smelling it. Genuine leather has a distinct, yet pleasurable, odor that’s not found elsewhere. It’s hard to describe it without smelling it yourself, but I guess you could compare it to a deeper pine scent with hints of bark. Faux leather, on the other hand, smells more like plastic. Try placing your nose up to the product and taking a couple of whiffs. If it smells like plastic with heavy hints of chemicals, it’s probably fake. Check The Tag Of course, another way to verify the authenticity of leather is to look for...
by Leather | Latest News
When most people think of leather applications, book binding probably doesn’t come to mind. Leather is most commonly associated with products like jackets, shoes, belts, furniture and upholstery, which it does a phenomenal job at. However, it’s also used in book binding, due largely in part to its unique properties and characteristics. To learn more about the use of leather in book binding, keep reading. Whether it’s a educational/academic textbook, sci-fi novel, or any other book, all books must be properly bound. Binding lives up to its namesake by securing the pages together so they don’t fall out. If the pages weren’t bound, they would simply fall right out. This is easily prevented, though, through the use of binding — the physical assembly of a book and the pages it contains. The leather has many advantages Leather has become an increasingly popular choice for book binding, and for good reason: it’s strong, durable, stylish and easily available. But there are also some potential disadvantages to using this material in book binding. Leather is susceptible to temperature fluctuations, high humidity, low humidity, ultraviolet (UV) sunlight, dust, mold and bugs. Turning a blind eye to these elements could result in damage to the book, which is why it’s important for owners of leather-bound books to know where and how to store them. If you own a leather-bound book, it’s recommended that you store it in a climate-controlled environment with a relative humidity of 40-50%. This seems to be a happy medium that’s not too dry and not too moist for leather. Storing leather-bound books in environments with 50% or higher relative...
by Leather | Bikers Jeans, Leather Care, Leather Jackets
The right apparel can make a world of difference in your comfort, style and even safety when riding a motorcycle. Whether it’s a street bike, “chopper,” or anything in between, you should carefully choose an outfit that’s best suited for your riding needs. While motorcycle apparel is available in a wide variety of different materials, nothing beats good old fashioned leather. To learn more about leather apparel and why it’s the perfect choice for motorcycle riders, keep reading. Comfort Let’s go ahead and discuss the most obvious benefit of riding a motorcycle with leather apparel: comfort. Genuine — not fake or faux — leather is soft, supple and easy on the skin. It offers a naturally soft texture that doesn’t rub or chafe, which is particularly important when you’re riding a motorcycle for hours on end. Regardless of how far you intend to ride, you can rest assured knowing that leather apparel will offer you the highest level of comfort possible. Protection A lesser-known benefit of wearing leather motorcycle apparel is the added protection it offers. It’s not something most people want to think about, but accidents do occur, and more frequently than you may realize. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, 13.10 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 72.34 per 100,000 registered motorcycles. Wearing a leather riding suit isn’t going to prevent you from getting into an accident, but it may reduce your chance of sustaining a “serious” injury. Leather acts as a protective layer between your skin and the road, absorbing the blow...
by Leather | Leather Care, Leather Questions
We’ve talked about some of types of leather on our blog, but we’ve yet to discuss the different forms. The truth is that most people don’t realize just how many different forms of leather there are. They assume leather is leather, with no real distinguishable differences. But subtle nuances between the different forms of leather can make a world of difference in its appearance and characteristics. Chrome-Tanned Leather Originally invented back in the mid 1850s, chrome-tanned leather is created using a special chemical known as chromium sulfate along with various chromium salts. It’s become the leading and most popular form of leather on the market, and for good reason: it is supple, soft and more pliable that other forms of leather. Furthermore, it doesn’t lose its shape drastically when exposed to water. Some people refer to chrome-tanned leather as “wet-blue” leather, a name derived from its light blue coloring that’s created through chrome tanning. Chrome-tanned leather takes about 24 hours to complete, which is a fraction of the amount required to produce other forms of leather. Vegetable-Tanned Leather The second most popular form of leather is known as vegetable-tanned leather. As the name suggests, it’s created using tannins and other compounds that are readily found in vegetables, trees and fruits. Vegetable-tanned leather has a distinct neutral brown color with various shades depending on the chemicals used during its tanning. According to some experts, vegetable-tanned leather is the only form of leather that’s acceptable to use in leather stamping and carving. Unlike chrome-tanned leather, vegetable-tanned leather is not suitable in water. When exposed to water for a prolonged length of...
by Leather | Leather Care
Have you noticed your leather product splitting or cracking? Genuine (not faux) leather offers a truly brilliant appearance that’s not found in other materials. Its neutral color combined with subtle grain and ultra-comfortable texture, makes it the perfect textile for jackets, belts, shoes, furniture, and other products. However, it’s also susceptible to cracking if not properly care for. What Causes Leather To Crack? This is a question many people ask, especially if they’ve never owned a product made of genuine leather before. To better understand this phenomenon, you must first look at the properties of leather. If you were to observe it under a microscope, you would notice the surface contains thousands upon thousands of small holes (known as pores). These pores are responsible for withholding and releasing moisture, depending on the surrounding humidity. When leather is exposed to high-humid environments for a prolonged period of time, it will absorb the surrounding moisture. But when it’s exposed to low-humid environments for a prolonged period of time, the opposite will happen and will release moisture. If enough moisture is released from the leather, it will begin to split and crack open. Preventing Leather From Cracking Open Protecting your leather from damage caused by splitting and cracking is actually a lot easier than most people realize. Going back the underlying cause of this phenomenon, splitting/cracking occurs when leather is exposed to exceptionally dry environments. Therefore, conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that it can be prevented by storing your leather product(s) in an environment with a moderate climate. A good rule of thumb is to sustain a relative humidity of...
by Leather | Leather Questions
When researching the different types of leather, you may come across a particular variety known as split leather. Based on the name alone, it’s difficult — if not impossible — to determine what exactly this means. To make things even more confusing, very few products are made using split leather. If you’re still scratching your head trying to understand what split leather is, keep reading for a breakdown of the term. Leather is typically sold in one of four different forms: full-grain, top-grain, corrected-grain and split. Products made of the highest quality leather are full-grain, which means it has not been buffed or sanded down in any way shape or form. This preserves its strength and durability while also keeping its genuine leather appearance. Top-grain, on the other hand, is a slightly lower quality of leather in which the split layer is removed and the surface is sanded or buffed down. Unique leather type A third type of leather is corrected grain, which as the name suggests, has an artificial grain added to the surface. You might be wondering why anyone would want to add a grain to the surface of a leather rawhide. Well, if the leather was low-quality, adding a grain may improve its function and appearance. Corrected-grain leather still pales in comparison to full and top-grain, but it’s still a common technique used by leather workers today. The fourth and final type of leather is split leather. Split leather is unique in the sense that it’s the only type of leather made from the fibrous area of the cow hide that’s leftover from the processing of...
by Leather | Leather Accessories
The right accessories can make a world of difference in your appearance. They will enhance your outfit will adding a unique style to your look. Anyone can wear a t-shirt and pair of pants, but it requires a certain eye for design to create a full outfit with the appropriate accessories. In this post we’re going to reveal some ideas for fashionable leather accessories to help you achieve the perfect look. Leather Handbag Tired of toting around the same generic handbag or purse day after day? If so, you should consider investing in a genuine leather handbag. Handbags made of leather possess a certain style and classic elegance that’s not found elsewhere. The dark color/tone combined with its subtle grain texture provides a stunning look that’s perfect to accessorize your outfit with. Just remember to use caution when carrying a leather handbag in the rain, as moisture can and will damage it. Leather Shoes We really can’t talk about leather accessories without mentioning shoes. Women can take their outfit to the next level by wearing a pair of leather boots or high-heeled shoes, whereas men should consider wearing a pair of leather loafers. In addition to being stylish, leather shoes are also incredibly comfortable. They are soft and contour to the shape of your foot, making them the perfect choice for people who are always on the go. Leather Wallet Assuming you use and carry around a wallet, you should consider investing in a genuine leather wallet. Sure, it won’t receive as much visibility when compares to a handbag or pair of shoes, but it’s still an integral part...
by Leather | Leather Jackets
Nothing compares to the timeless style and exceptional comfort of a leather jacket. Whether you’re a man, woman, young or old, you can’t go wrong with a leather jacket. It’s soft yet durable texture combined with the appearance of subtle grain offers a truly unique style that’s not found in jackets made of other materials. But there’s a long history associated with leather jackets that most people are unaware of. The truth is that no one knows when exactly the leather jacket was invented. People have used leather to create shirts, jackets and garments for centuries. With that said, historians believe some of the first examples of real modern-day leather jackets appeared in the early 1900s. During this era, aviation pilots and members of the military wore them, mostly for warmth and comfort. The connection of jackets with military aircraft You have to remember that aircraft cockpits and cabins back then were not climate controlled like they are today, so pilots and their crew relied on their clothes to stay warm. If you wore a t-shirt and shorts to fly in, not only would you be uncomfortable, but you could also experience hypothermia. Fast forward to the 1940s when the Second World War was underway, leather jackets became increasingly popular among aircraft bombers. Known as “bomber jackets,” they were fitted with additional insulation for an exceptional level of warmth and comfort. Reports indicate that bomber jackets were an essential part of a pilot’s uniform, meaning they were required to wear them for safety purposes. When Russia experienced its Civil War, the Bolsheviks were similar leather jackets. Of course, it...
by Leather | Leather Care
While many fabrics and materials attempt to mimic its characteristics, nothing compares to genuine leather. Whether it’s a handbag, belt, jacket, wallet or even shoes, leather offers the perfect combination of style, comfort and quality. However, if you’re going to invest in a genuine leather product, you should be prepared to clean it on a regular basis. Failure to clean your leather on a regular basis will result in its gradual degradation. Saddle soap is arguably the best leather cleaning product available on the market. It’s made of several different ingredients, including neatsfoot oil, glycerin, lanolin and beeswax. As the name suggests, it’s used primary for cleaning saddles and other leather-based horse tack, but it can also be used for leather garments. What is needed for comprehensive care of leather clothes? Before we start, you’ll need to pick up a few basic items. This includes some saddle soap (sold at most horse and tack stores as well as various general goods stores), a washcloth, and a light-bristle scrub brush. It’s important to note that the exact steps to using saddle soap will vary depending on the product you are cleaning. If you are cleaning a pair of leather boots, for instance, you’ll want to scrub them vigorously to remove any hardened dirt. But if you’re cleaning a leather jacket, you’ll want to take a more cautious approach to avoid any accidental damage. Be conscious of the garment you are cleaning and make the necessary adjustments to prevent any damage. When you are ready to begin, first wipe down your garment with a damp — not soaked — washcloth. The...
