Full Grain Leather

Leather has been used since prehistoric times, the only difference between then and now is that then it was used to meet the basic needs, while now it's more or less used in the form of fashion apparel and accessories. This article is not written with an intent to ignite the age-old debate on whether or not to use animal hide/ skin in clothing and other fashion accessories. It only is about the different types of leather and how are they different from each other. With time, leather has gained immense popularity. And for the consumers to not get bored of the sameness, the manufacturers have tried many trial and error methods to come up with some variation in the leather types. This gave birth to the different types of leather which are going to be mentioned later in the article.

What is Full Grain Leather?
Full grain leather is, of course, one of the types of leather. These are used for varied purposes. To name a few, they are used in making furniture, handbags, jackets, etc. In fact, some of the well-known fashion designers and fashion hubs use this leather to make some of the finest fashion clothing and accessories. It is one of the most sought after leather type. Although they could be made of any animal hide, cow skin is what is commonly used to make leather. Many of the leather goods available in the market undergo a complex process. This process has an effect on the texture, the durability and other such factors. And many a time, they have a negative effect, bringing down the quality that the hide or the skin originally had. Now what's different in full grain leather if all leathers go through a certain process to be turned out into a salable product? Unlike other leather types, full grain leather goes through a minimal process of transformation. In fact, the only process that it goes through is the removal of fur or hair from the animal skin. This gives it a more original and natural look. While in other types of leather, the different layers of the hide are used, in full grain leather the whole hide is used to make any product. It's thick leather as it uses up the whole hide, it's breathable and therefore is used in making fashion clothing. Full grain leathers also come in two finishes, namely aniline and semi-aniline. Aniline finish is where the leather is dyed but the surface of it does not contain any color coat. Semi-aniline is a type of finish where it's dyed and it has a finish on the surface as well.

Full Grain Leather Care
Because of the natural porosity of the hide, anything of a liquid nature can easily penetrate into the leather. And dirt and damage are something that cannot be avoided completely even when one tries hard. Some leather care tips are definitely required in maintaining those expensive full grain leather products of yours.

The first most important point to remember when it comes to cleaning leather is to purchase the right leather care products. This means only to purchase leather cleaners and conditioners that are meant for leather and for any other leather. Any spills on the full grain leather need to be wiped off ASAP as it could penetrate deep inside. To wipe off the liquid, use a damp cloth and then leave it to dry naturally. When using a leather cleaner, take a piece of soft cloth and dip and dampen it with some warm water. Now dip the cloth into the leather cleaner and leave it to dry. Once dried, wipe off the extra with a dry piece of cloth. After cleaning the leather with the cleaners, apply the leather conditioner. This would protect the leather from dirt, water and other possible damage.

When it comes to furniture, full grain leather should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Avoiding eating and drinking on full grain leather furniture would also reduce the risk of any stains and damage.

Other Types of Leather
Following are some of the other common leather types.

• Top-grain leather
• Split leather
• Corrected-grain leather
• Patent leather
• Nubuck leather
• Bonded leather
• Cowhide leather

The second best quality leather is considered to be the top-grain. It uses one of the split layers of the hide and is much thinner in comparison. Because of the same reason, it is not as durable as full grain leather.