Leather Categories explanations:
CAT 1:
CORRECTED GRAIN LEATHER
(Black, Dark Beige, Oxblood, Antique, Impala Cappuccino)
The natural grain of Corrected grain leather is completely removed by sanding. The surface is covered with a heavy large layer of pigment and protective lacquer and embossed with an artificial uniform grain. Corrected grain leather has a colder, firmer feel due to the correction process. It has regular texture that is printed onto the heavily pigmented surface.
CHARACTERISTICS:
-Consistent color
-Improved light fastness
-Good defect coverage
-Easy maintenance
CAT 2:
SEMI-ANILINE LEATHER
(Milano Cherry, Impala Cosmic, Gaucho Brown, Gaucho Cool Grey, Gaucho Cream, Gaucho Navy, Gaucho Tan)
This type of leather is stylish and more natural looking. The finish is a mixture of dye and pigment, which gives a uniform look, but does not disguise all natural markings and scars of the hide. The coating provides a barrier against liquid absorption. Semi Aniline leather is more durable than Full Aniline leather. It is a better alternative for heavy traffic and direct sunlight. This leather type can be wonderful compromise for those who want to achieve a uniform look while still retaining the many beautiful natural characteristics of leather. Scratching will be far less obvious, and colour will remain more consistent over time. The light pigment coating on Semi Aniline hides is like a light layer of foundation make up over your skin.
Semi Aniline leathers provide:
– Higher light fastness and durability
– Soft handle and retains appearance over time
– Requires less maintenance, perfect for high traffic areas.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Natural grain surface
Good look and feel
Improved light fastness
More practical than Full Aniline leather
Breathable
CAT 3:
CORRECTED GRAIN LEATHER
(Neo Nutmeg, Neo Mopani, Neo Desert, Neo steel)
The natural grain of Corrected grain leather is completely removed by sanding. The surface is covered with a heavy large layer of pigment and protective lacquer and embossed with an artificial uniform grain. Corrected grain leather has a colder, firmer feel due to the correction process. It has regular texture that is printed onto the heavily pigmented surface.
CHARACTERISTICS:
-Consistent color
-Improved light fastness
-Good defect coverage
-Easy maintenance
SEMI-ANILINE LEATHER:
(Cumulus Brown)
This type of leather is stylish and more natural looking. The finish is a mixture of dye and pigment, which gives a uniform look, but does not disguise all natural markings and scars of the hide. The coating provides a barrier against liquid absorption. Semi Aniline leather is more durable than Full Aniline leather. It is a better alternative for heavy traffic and direct sunlight. This leather type can be wonderful compromise for those who want to achieve a uniform look while still retaining the many beautiful natural characteristics of leather. Scratching will be far less obvious, and colour will remain more consistent over time. The light pigment coating on Semi Aniline hides is like a light layer of foundation make up over your skin.
Semi Aniline leathers provide:
– Higher light fastness and durability
– Soft handle and retains appearance over time
– Requires less maintenance, perfect for high traffic areas.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Natural grain surface
Good look and feel
Improved light fastness
More practical than Full Aniline leather
Breathable
SEMI NU-BUCK LEATHER
(Woodlands Buff Brown, Woodlands Spice, Woodlands Black, Woodlands Graphite, Woodlands Forest, Woodlands Whiskey, Woodlands Denim)
A semi-Nu Buck is a nu buck leather which is partly finished
(Top Grain leather that has been buffed.) It looks like vintage leather due to the patina.
On some parts of the surface, you can see the rough of the nubuck while on other areas, the nubuck is covered with a thin irregular colour coating therefore the leather has a multi coloured surface and a patchy design.
This leather is very lightly sanded, pigmented leather. It is not sanded enough that it looks like a nu buck leather. Semi nu buck is buffed aniline leather with all the natural markings dyed through, giving a velvety suede touch, yet with an authentic rugged appearance. Shade variations are normal and add to the character of the aged look. This leather type will take on natural skin oils from body contact and will tend to go darker, shinier, and smoother in these areas – this is a natural occurrence and will enhance the characteristic of the leather with time.
FULL ANILINE
(Codiac Taupe, Nyathi Dune, Nyathi Tan, Metador Camel, Metador Tan)
Full Aniline leather is the most rewarding for leather connoisseurs.
It is generally the most expensive of all leather types as only the very best raw hides can qualify for this type, which attract a higher cost. It has a wonderful silky touch, and the look has great depth
Full aniline leather is a very high-quality leather end-product. It is made from topmost part of the hide that has been dyed using only soluble dyes. In order to make full aniline leather, the animal’s hide is placed in a large drum that contains the aniline dyes.
Aniline dye is a very specific type of dye that does not contain any pigment, or coloring. This means that the dye preserves the natural grain, marking, scars, and wrinkles that are present in the hide without coloring it at all. In addition, during this process, the leather does not usually obtain a uniform color, because the hide absorbs the dye at different rates. Even though there is no pigment in the dye, the oils that the aniline is mixed with still change the color slightly. This process keeps the natural character of the leather and makes full aniline leather one of the most sought-after types of leather.
For all that to be possible, the leather craftsmen must use only the purest and cleanest hides of super high quality. Because any hide that was severely damaged during animal’s life or even during hide’s transportation and processing, could not be used for such finishing. Therefore, if you know that a product is made of full aniline leather, you can rest assured that steep price of a product is justifiable.
With age, your leather furniture will mould to your body shape and colours may mellow and change according to its use and environment, making the piece of furniture uniquely your own.
Full Aniline leather tends to absorb body oils and perspiration, which will cause leather to darken on contact areas because there Is no pigment or polyurethane barrier (as used on lesser quality leathers)
Aniline leather finish is sensitive to light – Please keep away from windows and areas with direct sunlight.
If you use a great aniline leather, you have a piece for life, something that will age gracefully and naturally.
Aniline leathers feature:
-Most natural, most beautiful leather with an ultra-soft handle.
-Most comfortable seating comfort due to breathability.
-Develops a patina and improves with age
– More sensitive to sunlight and requires more maintenance
– Absorbs water immediately
– Completely uncovered hair follicles
– No direct surface treatment
CAT 4:
FULL ANILINE – MILD PULL UP LEATHER
(Kalahari Desert Brown, Kalahari Sunset, Shiduli Toffee, Shiduli Smoke, Shiduli Mikado, Shiduli Sand)
See Full Aniline and Pull up.
PULL UP LEATHER
(Bushveld Mopani – aggressive)
Aniline dyed leather. / Nu Buck.
Only selected bovine hide are used for Pull up leather.
“Pull up’’ refers to the change in color.
Pull up is a nu buck leather with a grease or wax finish.
When you flex the leather, it will change color to show where the oils are. This type of leather is sealed using natural oils instead of paints, pigments or topcoats.
Pull up leather is aniline dyed in the drum to create deep vibrant colours. It is finished with a combination of transparent waxes and oils, which gives the leather a very soft hand or feel.
The waxes and oils combine with the leather fibers to create a strong bond that makes pull up leather extremely durable.
Pull-up leather is aniline dyed in the drum to create deep, vibrant colors. It is finished with a combination of transparent waxes and oils, which gives the leather a very soft hand, or feel. When this leather is stretched or pulled, the color migrates and becomes lighter in the pulled areas. Drastic variations in light and dark areas increase as the leather is handled and stretched against the grain.
The “pull-up” becomes more evident as the leather is stretched tightly around furniture frames and other materials. As a pure aniline leather, marks, scratches, and signs of wear will show and a rich patina, or shine, will increase over time.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Good touch & feel
Fashionable
Develops unique distressed look
The more pull up leather is handled, the more it resembles distressed leather. Both pull up and distressed leather are aniline dyed. However distressed hides have a matte surface, and it does not drastically lighten it’s appearance like pulling on a pull up leather.
As the name implies, distressed leather is leather that is too damaged or marred in a way that causes it to look older, worn or even damaged. In most cases, this means scrapes and scratches from wear and tear over time, but you can also distress leather by cutting or burning it, or even by soaking it in water. The process of distressing leather doesn’t just make it look worn, but it also makes it more durable and less likely to crack or scratch along the lines of the damage.
CAT 5:
PULL UP (AGGRESSIVE PULL-UP) LEATHER
(Rustica Acacia)
See Pull Up leather.
CORRECTED GRAIN LEATHER
(Nuvo Cement, Nuvo Oyster, Nuvo Pearl)
The natural grain of Corrected grain leather is completely removed by sanding. The surface is covered with a heavy large layer of pigment and protective lacquer and embossed with an artificial uniform grain. Corrected grain leather has a colder, firmer feel due to the correction process. It has regular texture that is printed onto the heavily pigmented surface.
CHARACTERISTICS:
-Consistent color
-Improved light fastness
-Good defect coverage
-Easy maintenance
CAT 6:
SEMI NU BUCK LEATHER
(Serengetti Catalina, Serengetti Storm, Serengetti Mid Brown)
A semi-Nu Buck is a nu buck leather which is partly finished
(Top Grain leather that has been buffed.) It looks like vintage leather due to the patina.
On some parts of the surface, you can see the rough of the nubuck while on other areas, the nubuck is covered with a thin irregular colour coating therefore the leather has a multi coloured surface and a patchy design.
This leather is very lightly sanded, pigmented leather. It is not sanded enough that it looks like a nu buck leather. Semi nu buck is buffed aniline leather with all the natural markings dyed through, giving a velvety suede touch, yet with an authentic rugged appearance. Shade variations are normal and add to the character of the aged look. This leather type will take on natural skin oils from body contact and will tend to go darker, shinier, and smoother in these areas – this is a natural occurrence and will enhance the characteristic of the leather with time.
INDIGENOUS GAME (GENUINE GEMSBOK)
(Gemsbok Kiaat)
This unique full aniline leather derived from this magnificent migratory antelope is strong, supple and silky to the touch. In order to survive in the very dry semi desert and desert conditions of the Kalahari and the Namib, gemsbok store water in their hide.
This result in a soft spongy like texture.
Shade variations are normal and natural defects are very evident, mainly as a result of the struggle for dominance in the herd where sharp horns are used as instruments to battle damaging the hides.