When it comes to choosing leather products, understanding the differences in quality and characteristics of different types of leather is crucial. Our motivation is to educate you of the differences between available leathers to help you make an informed purchase.
At Buckle, we manufacture using one of three grades of leather:
- Full grain, vegetable tanned leather;
- Solid hide buffalo leather (otherwise referred to top or corrected grain); or
- Cowhide split leather (commonly referred to as genuine leather)
The diagram below illustrates the three main grades of leather. You will notice that reconstituted, or bonded leather, is not included. This is because it is not a true leather grade in the same sense; instead, it is made from leather offcuts from all layers that are shredded into fibres and then bound together using a plastic-based composite.
It is also important to be cautious, as reconstituted or bonded leather is often marketed as “genuine leather.” This is misleading and not an accurate description of the material.
In this blog, we are simply going to focus on split leather. Also informally known as 'genuine leather', it is derived from the lower layers of the animal hide.
What is Split Leather?
Split leather distinguishes itself from full grain and top grain leather in terms of durability. The soft and luxurious texture of split leather makes it a popular choice for products like belts, shoes and upholstery, offering a distinctive tactile experience.
In this one-minute video below, director of NSW Leather Co., Ian Fischl, sheds light on the nuances of split leather. Despite its lower durability compared to full grain and top grain leathers, split leather finds its niche in various applications, particularly in creating suede or suede-like materials due to its fuzzy finish.
Internally, splits at Buckle are called 'soft' leathers, whereas the full grain and top grain products are called 'hard' leathers. Whilst over time, full grain and top grain products will soften, splits are already soft from the moment they are received into our production environment.
With the grain layer removed (the strongest part of the hide) split leathers are treated to improve both durability and appearance. A very thin coating, typically around one-tenth of a millimetre, is applied to the surface to enhance longevity and visual appeal. This coating serves two key purposes: protection and aesthetics. In many cases, split leathers are also embossed with printed grain patterns to replicate the look of higher-grade leathers, giving them a more refined and uniform finish.
Our collection proudly features belts crafted from cowhide split leather, making them the perfect finishing touch for formal and professional occasions.
In the realm of leather offerings, split leather may not offer the same resilience as full grain or top grain, but it has its own distinct qualities that make it well suited to certain applications. Ultimately, understanding these differences allows consumers to make more informed choices about which type of leather best meets their needs.
