About Genuine Leather

Genuine leather is a natural material made from animal hides, carefully treated through a process called tanning. It is known for its strength, durability, and timeless appearance, making it one of the most popular materials for luxury furniture.

What is Leather?

Leather is created by processing raw hides to preserve them and improve durability. Unlike synthetic materials, real leather ages beautifully and develops a unique character over time.

Types of Leather

There are different types of leather used in furniture manufacturing:

Full-Grain Leather

The highest quality leather, known for its natural texture and durability. It is strong and develops a rich patina.

Top-Grain Leather

Slightly processed for a smoother finish while still maintaining strength and quality.

Split Leather

Made from lower layers of the hide. It is more affordable but less durable than top-grade options.

Why Choose Leather Furniture?

Leather furniture is highly valued for its comfort, elegance, and long lifespan. It is resistant to wear and tear, easy to clean, and becomes more attractive with age.

Care & Maintenance

To maintain leather furniture, avoid direct sunlight, clean regularly with a soft cloth, and use leather conditioner to keep it soft and flexible.

Conclusion

Leather remains one of the most premium materials in furniture design, combining luxury, durability, and timeless style.

The hallmarks of Full-Grain Leather

The living animal is exposed to various types of influence from the environment. Natural leather proudly bears the hallmarks of its origin. These individual characteristics and marks have been accumulated gradually over years. They are not weakening defects and will not shorten the life of the leather. In fact, they are considered to enhance its appearance and distinguish leather from imitations.

Warts Full-grain Leather	Horn Scratches Full-grain Leather

Fat Folds Full-grain Leather	Dung Marks Full-grain Leather

Closed Scars Full-grain Leather	Veins Full-grain Leather

Insect Bites Full-grain Leather	Salt Stains Full-grain Leather

Curry-comb Scratches Full-grain Leather	Goad Marks Full-grain Leather

SEMI PROCESSED WET BLU HIDES that have been already split to the required thickness are received from a wet blu tannery. The hides are wet and they are blue (from the chrome tannage), hence the name WET BLU. This process is considered a
“pre tanning process” so that hides are already “semi tanned”. The process of tanning a hide is to ensure that it is preserved over a long period of time and does not rot.

GRADING: Hides are selected into categories of grades, ie, grade A, B, C etc. SHAVING: The hides are laid flat and are fed through a machine with very sharp and quick rotating blades on

a cylinder, to achieve the thickness required for the desired finished article.

RE-TANNING and DYEING: The hides are placed in large “drums” where they are re-tanned to our specific needs and the pH is controlled so that there is a good penetration of dye that has been added in the drums whilst the hides are re-tanned. The dyeing process in this operation gives the hide the colour required in between the top and the underneath side of the hide. This helps “camouflage” the leather if the surface is scuffed as an end use product.

SAMMING: When the hide comes out of the abovementioned drum, it is soaking wet. In order to remove the liquid out of the hide and to speed up the drying process, the hides are fed through two cylinders and the liquid is “squeezed” out,ie, the water is compressed
out of them although they still remain moist. (approx 60% of the water remains).

TOGGLING AND DRYING: the hides are spread out and “pegged or clamped” onto a large grid like frame
and go through a drying oven for a few hours to get them completely dry.

UP TO THIS POINT, the process is standard for all types of leathers and the product is called – DYED CRUST. The hide is quite stiff and has been given its “pre colour” in the middle.

FULL-GRAIN LEATHERS – SEMI ANILINE or PIGMENTED FINISH.

DRY MILLING: the hides are placed in huge “tumble drier type drums”. These drums spin continuously and the hides inside are softened by the constant tumbling against each other.

SPRAY LINE: The hide gets laid out flat on a conveyor belt and goes through a spray booth twice where it gets 2 coats of finish sprayed onto it .
Immediately after the spray booth, it goes thru a long “oven” for drying after each application.

DRY MILLING: the hides go back into the milling drums for further “tumbling” or milling to get the softness that is required.

SPRAY LINE – FINAL COAT: a finish or final coat is sprayed onto the leather for the “touch required” (eg, waxy or oily etc) on the leather and to seal the finish so that it is colourfast.

MEASURING: The finished leather is measured on an electronic pinwheel measuring machine for its chargeable area.
This method of measuring (by electronic pinwheel machine ) is the only internationally accepted method of measuring soft upholstery leathers.

INSPECTION AND PACKING: The finished leather is then quality inspected at the inspection table and thereafter packed suitably for dispatch to our customer.

CORRECTED OR SEMI CORRECTED LEATHERS – PIGMENTED FINISH.

STUCCO APPLICATION: This is when the hide has a “poly-filler” type paste applied to it with a spatula.
This paste is called STUCCO PASTE. The paste fills the holes and imperfections in the hide .

BUFFING OF HIDE: the hide is fed through a buffing machine on a flat conveyor and the surface (grain) is buffed with a special buffing machine.

This buffing process levels the “poly-filled” areas out to the same level as the grain of leather. All imperfections have now either been filled with stucco or buffed off in this process.

SPRAY LINE: Once the hide is buffed, it goes for 2 to 3 coats of pigment and then a final coat of sealer top (so that colour/finish does not rub off)

DRY MILLING: Hides are sent for “tumbling” or milling in the milling drums so that the leather becomes soft.

PRINTING/EMBOSSING: a “leather print or grain” is applied with an emboss roller so that
it imitates a particular desired grain that was removed in the stucco and buffing process.

DRY MILLING: When leather is printed or embossed, it firms up as the fibres in the hide are compressed together by the
pressure applied, so the leather is then MILLED AGAIN to soften it back to the final softness required.

MEASURING: The finished leather is measured on an electronic pinwheel measuring machine for its chargeable area.

This method of measuring (by electronic pinwheel machine) is the only internationally accepted method of measuring soft upholstery leathers.

INSPECTION AND PACKING: The finished leather is then quality inspected at the inspection
table and thereafter packed suitably for dispatch to our customer.

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The Furnworld Leather Guide

Types of Nappa Leather

Full-Grain Leather

Full aniline: Dyed and top-sprayed with dye only.
Semi-aniline: Dyed and top-sprayed with dye and pigment.
Pigmented: Dyed and sprayed with pigment.

“Snuffed” Grain

A slight surface correction, finished with either a semi-aniline or pigmented finish.

Corrected Grain

A corrected leather surface with a pigmented finish.

Split Leather

Pigmented: Dyed and top-sprayed with pigment.
PU-coated: Commonly known as bycast leather.

Aniline and semi-aniline finishes tend to show more depth and natural character, while pigmented finishes have a more uniform appearance.

Advantages of Leather Furniture

Authenticity: Leather develops its own patina, character and appearance over time.
Longevity: With proper care, leather furniture can last for many years.
Timeless style: Leather has an enduring appeal.
Individual character: Each piece ages with its own natural look and markings.
Easy care: Many modern leathers are designed with practical, wipe-clean finishes.

Full-Grain vs Corrected Grain

Why Full-Grain?

Full-grain leather retains natural marks and scratches from the animal’s life, giving it depth and individual character. Semi-aniline finishes can provide a soft, silky feel and a natural appearance. Protect the leather from direct sunlight to help preserve its finish.

Why Corrected Grain?

Corrected-grain leather offers a more uniform surface for those who prefer fewer visible natural markings. Its finish can offer practical, easy-clean care with a more consistent appearance.

Care for Leather

Wipe regularly with a soft, dry cloth to prevent dust build-up.
Never use shoe polish or household detergents to clean leather.
Dab spills immediately with a soft, dry, absorbent cloth.
Keep semi-aniline finishes away from direct sunlight.
Use an approved leather-care product suitable for the finish to maintain suppleness.

Leather treated as described above will maintain its natural beauty and develop an individual patina over time.