Most leather used for furniture covering is cow leather, but more exotic leathers are also available, such as ostrich skin.

Cowhides are thick enough to be split into two or three layers of leather. The outer surface of the animal’s hide is separated from the lower layers by slicing it with a long knife as the hide is fed through a series of rollers.

This outer portion of the animal’s skin is usually 4-5mm thick (about the thickness of the edge of a coin). The layers of leather underneath the top grain are referred to as “split hides.” These are generally thicker and stiffer than the top grain and are generally less expensive.

Once processed cow leather generally is described in one or more of the following ways:

Full grain leather is the top layer of the skin that has had nothing done to alter the natural surface of the hide so that the original features of the hide are still visible scars, insect bites and the like, which make each hide unique.

Top grain leather is full grain leather that has had the surface altered by sanding, buffing or embossing so that the natural features and inconsistencies in the leather surface are removed.

Corrected leather is a term describing both top grain leather and leather splits that have had surface inconsistencies or imperfections removed by sanding and other processing.

Full aniline leather - These are leathers which have been aniline dyed in a vat process with no colour coating added to the surface. Full aniline dyed leathers are prized for their soft, natural feel. They are the most expensive leathers to produce because of the difficulty in finding the superior quality of hides required to produce the full aniline leather. Full aniline dyed leathers may also be more susceptible to absorbing liquids because of the natural porosity of the hide. But because they don’t have a top coat, the leather breathes more easily and is cooler to sit on and to wear.

Semi-aniline leather - Leathers which have been both dyed throughout and have a finish on the surface are referred to as semi-aniline dyed. This type of leather has become more popular in recent years because it incorporates much of the softness and feel of fully aniline dyed leather with the protective benefits of surface finishing. Semi-aniline dyed leathers can be compared to a painted surface which has been well primed before the finish coating is applied. By dyeing the leather to a base coloration before the final coating is applied, a very even coloration is produced with only a thin layer of finish. Thus, the leather remains softer because it is not necessary to apply a thick finish coating. Following the colour coating, a clear protecting finish is applied as on the machine finished leathers. Semi-aniline dyed leathers are available in a wide range of colours because they are not limited to the shades achievable by dyeing alone. Semi-aniline dyed leathers are also desirable because small nicks and scratches are hidden by the base colouration of the hide.

Pull-Up Leather
Pull-up leather is a type of semi-aniline leather that has an extra top treatment of oil and / or wax. These leathers are designed to become distressed or antique looking through time and use. It has properties similar to full aniline leather, but in applications where it is subject to heavy use (such as seating) the oils will be pushed away or rubbed off, leaving patches of lighter colour. The leather is also more susceptible to scratching.

Nu-Buck
Sometimes called Chaps, Stonewashed or (incorrectly) suede, these are actually aniline leathers that have had the grain surface brushed to create a texture similar to velvet. The brushing actually breaks down the leather surface, making it very soft and supple. However, it also makes the surface more absorbent and thus more easily soiled.

Suede is actually the flesh side of the skin, and like Nu-Buck it is susceptible to being easily soiled.

Bycast
Also called coated leather bycast is produced from split leather by melting glue onto the surface and then rolling on a film of coloured polyurethane.

It is of variable quality, generally produced in darker colours and when stretched it lightens. Bycast leather also scratches easily. Originally developed and used for fashion accessories, it is increasingly being used on low quality furniture.

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