A primer in selecting leather < BEST LEATHER THREAD ON THE FORUM < READ

[drcollie]

When buying leather, know the difference between a pure aniline hide (vegetable dyed) and finished leather (painted).

90% of all leathers are finished - that means they are sanded down to remove all imperfections, the grain pattern is embossed back into the hide, and the color coat is a layer of paint. This is called Top Grain as well

Aniline hides have no sanding, no corrections to the hide and are dyed. They start out as finer, or cleaner hides and only done on the best crusts. So, you will see ALL the natural markings on the leather. This is also called Full Top Grain.

Here's a chair we have in the store that shows a healed scar next to the Apple Tag. This is not a fault in this category of leather - and is to be expected. Whatever happened in this Steer's life is shown in the leather. Now you know!