Leather is one of man's earliest discoveries. As the man increased his dependence on animals for food, transportation etc, he discovered the durability of animal skin to protect him from natural elements. The earliest record of leather artefacts and objects dates back to 2200 BCE.
Leather is any material made from animal hides or skins. It is very durable, wrinkle-resistant fabric, and it can take on many different looks based on the grade, and treatment. The history of leather dates back more than 7,000 years. Alligator and crocodile leather is the most valuable and most sought-after leather in the world.
Apart from shoes, apparels, leather is now extensively used in making bags. Whether it is leather wallets, ladies clutch, women's leather shoulder bags, visiting card holder, pure leather backpacks etc. Every age group and gender prefers a good bag or a wallet which makes a style statement. The number of ways this extremely good material can be designed into is astonishing. With more and more people, leaning towards modern designs along with convenience, leather bags are increasingly becoming popular. It is so malleable and versatile that it can be turned into a plethora of designs, product line and utility products.
There are many different types of leather available in the market. Each has its own unique qualities that will benefit different products or design elements. It’s important to choose the right leather for the right product to help ensure a great result. The different types of leather available today are full grain, top grain, genuine, bicast, and bonded. The various leather finishes include embossed, embroidered, aniline, semi-aniline, brush-colored, degrained, die-cut, handworked, metallic and many more.
- Full Grain Leather: This cut of leather comprises of the outer layout of the skin, referred to as the “grain”. The outer layer or the grain hasn’t been buffed to remove any imperfections, only the hair is removed on full-grain leathers. The grain usually has densely packed fine fibres which form a surface that is very strong, durable, and can withstand tough use.
- Top Grain Leather: This cut is like full-grain, except that it has the very top layer sanded or buffed to get rid of imperfections and flaws within the finish. This makes the leather softer and more pliable, with various dyes and finished applied thereto. Given its softness and suppleness, top grain leather is commonly utilized in high-end leather goods, including handbags, wallets, and shoes.
- Genuine Leather (Corrected Leather): Genuine leather can come from any layer of the skin, and is treated to form a more uniform, appearance. It is often sanded or buffed to get rid of imperfections, then dyed (or spray painted) or stamped/embossed to provide it with a final surface appearance. The process alters a number of the popular qualities of leather, so while not a high quality, it's often used for belts and similar goods.
- Split Grain Leather: Split grain leather could be a layered cut of leather from within the lower levels of the highest grain area of the hide. It is often employed in finishes of leathers that are coloured, embossed, and also the surface altered in some significant way.
- Bonded Leather (Reconstituted Leather): Bonded leather is made from leather scraps that are finely shredded and bonded together using polyurethane or latex onto a fibre mesh or sheet.
