Due to the organic nature of leather, each item you purchase will be unique and original. It takes more art than science to choose the right leather. Although virtually any animal skin may be converted into leather, including fish skin, just four species account for 99% of global leather production: cows, which account for 65% of output, sheep, 15%, pigs, 11%, and goats, who account for 9%.
The circumstances of the animal's upbringing, its diet, its health, and its age are all aspects that have an impact on the final result, which includes the quality of the leather produced. A number of qualities, including look, durability, scratch resistance, water resistance, strength, weight, and softness, will also be significantly impacted by the procedures used to prepare the hide and its quality.
Guide to Buying the Right Leather
Before you choose the correct leather hide for your leather project, be sure you know exactly what you're planning to build. This way, you'll obtain the right ingredients and materials the first time. Buying high-quality leather involves a variety of considerations. The difficult choice will be made much simpler with the aid of a practical leather buying guide. It's exciting to dive right into a new leather project. We'll explore how to look for the next great leather piece.
The "Cadillac" is made of 100% veg tan leather
Tannage | Vegetable Tanned vs. Chrome Tanned
This is an excellent place to begin. Each of these tanning methods involves many steps. It's essential to recognize that one utilizes plant oils (from tree bark) and the other uses chemicals to tan (chromium). Vegetal tanned leather, often known as veg tan, is more expensive since it requires more time to produce and is thought to be of superior quality. Chrome-tanned leather is more affordable since it can be produced more quickly. Veg tan is often thicker, firmer, and more long-lasting. It can be pinkish beige to natural tan in its natural condition. Thin, very elastic, and less resistant is chrome-tanned leather. Unlike veg tan, it doesn't age or develop a patina.
Grain | Full Grain vs. Top Grain
The best quality of leather is full grain, which has not only had the hair removed but has had no additional surface alterations made to it. The second-highest quality of leather is top grain. And it's split leather. As a result, the leather is more pliable, thinner, and nevertheless exceptionally durable and strong. Top grain is often found in the more expensive leathers. Both are excellent choices in terms of quality and endurance, but which one you choose will depend on your priorities. Top grain is often less costly and, assuming the finish is kept intact, much more stain-resistant. Full-grain leather, on the other hand, is the way to go if you want to spend a little extra money on higher-quality leather that will last a lifetime.
Thickness | Thick vs. Thin
The thickness of leather is often assessed in weight (oz) rather than thickness (mm), which is the first thing to know. Different leather thicknesses are needed for various projects. Just bear in mind that leather gets thinner as the oz size increases and thicker as the oz size decreases. And that, in general, the thicker the leather, the less flexible the leather will be. However, there are other elements that affect this as well. It could be confusing at first, but in the end, you'll undoubtedly get an understanding of it.
Hand | Soft vs. Firm
Simply said, "hand" describes how the leather feels to the touch or in the hand - how firm or supple it is. Vegetable-tanned leather has a fuller body and a stronger feel as compared to chrome and oil-tanned leather. It basically refers to how your leather feels in your hands and how simple it is to fold or handle. Leather that has been chrome-tanned feels softer and is more malleable. If you're working on a project where the stitching is on the inside, this will be helpful. After sewing, it will be much simpler to turn it right side out than if you had used vegetable-tanned leather.
Cowhides | Shapes & Sizes
The sizes and shapes of leather skins vary. The most typical shape is a whole hide, and when the cowhide is divided in half along the spine, a half hide is produced. Smaller bits of leather that are left behind after a hide has been trimmed for upholstery are known as leather remnants. Depending on an animal's age and breed, cowhides can vary greatly in size. Cowhide sizes typically vary from 45 to 60 square feet, however, both smaller and bigger examples are not uncommon.
Still Looking for Real Leather Goods?
As the economy steadily recovers, it is critical to discover strategies to stay under budget and meet tighter deadlines without losing quality. That is what we aim for at Bennington Leather. Working together with our clients allows us to put creative concepts into the very first product sample. With the help of our years of experience, we can turn your designs into the finished piece. Simple, classic, and one-of-a-kind are three words that describe every leather product made by Bennington Leather.
Still haven't found a genuine leather product? For you, we can make it. We specialize in leather works, and our group of leather experts would be pleased to collaborate with you to develop and create the ideal leather craft item you've always desired. Bennington Leather is a premier supplier of handcrafted, custom-made leather goods. Despite the fact that we offer ready-made leather goods manufactured by hand, we are best at creating leather goods for customers that are specially tailored to their needs. We provide leather goods that are elegant, useful, and utilitarian.