Full Grain Vs Top Grain Vs Genuine Leather Vs Vegan Leather - What's the difference?

The first time I went Leather shopping, my head was spinning...what are all these different names? How can I be sure I'm not getting ripped off and overpaying for junky leather?

**Full Grain Leather? Genuine Leather? Top Grain? Vegan Leather? What does any of it even mean?**

Well, since then, I've learned a thing or two, and I'll share them with you here, that way you can know you're getting a good deal on the kind of leather you're buying.

First – What is “genuine” leather?

Well, the word Genuine doesn’t actually mean anything, legally speaking. Someone could call their product a “genuine copy” and it would genuinely mean that yep, it’s a counterfeit. So don’t read too much into people who are marketing their products as “genuine.” All the other words will actually tell you what it is.

What is commonly referred to as “genuine leather” is frequently a small portion of leather, with other products bonded to it (also referred to as bonded leather). This kind of material will rip and split when stressed.

In fact, I’ve even seen the term “genuine vegan leather” which is really funny to me. So let’s clear something up –

Is Vegan Leather real Leather?

NO! Vegan leather is NOT real leather – it’s a new name for what used to be referred to as imitation leather. So if something is “genuine vegan leather”, it’s made out of fake leather, and will not last like a real leather product would.

What kind of leather should you buy?

Full Grain or Top Grain Leathers are what you should look for. If a product isn’t marketed as one of those, it is probably some form of “genuine leather” and could contain synthetic products.

Here are a couple similarities of Full Grain and Top Grain Leather:

They are both produced from the top, or outermost portion, of an animal hide. The outermost portion is the thickest, tightest, strongest layer.

Both Top Grain and Full Grain have some of the bottom fibers split off to create uniform thickness.

What is the difference between Full Grain Leather and Top Grain?

The difference is in how the leather is treated at the tannery. Top Grain will have the smooth surface of the leather sanded at the tannery to remove defects, and then have a pattern stamped onto the leather to create a uniform look. Full Grain Leather can be tanned and dyed, but will not have that outermost portion sanded off. Only the top 3-5% of hides are good enough to be Full Grain Leather hides, so they tend to be the most expensive.

What kind of leather is the most durable?

Because Full Grain Leather has those outermost layers, it will be the most durable leather you can buy. Different animal hides will have different properties – Deer skin and Sheepskin leather tends to be soft and somewhat stretchable, while Cowhide and Bison will be thicker, stiffer, and more heavy-duty.

How do you tell the difference between Top Grain and Full Grain leather?

You can tell the difference between top grain and full grain leather just by looking at them. Full Grain leather will have imperfections, while Top Grain leather will have a much more uniform look. With real leather, visual imperfections are actually a sign that higher quality leather was used. These imperfections give character and make your piece one-of-a-kind!

Often on our full grain leather products, you might notice portions of cow brands, scratches and scrapes, fat folds, or dots from bug bite scars. These tell a story of the animal that the hide came from, and make each piece unique!