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by Seo Singh July 01, 2021 8 min read
Leather hardly needs any introduction, does it? It has significantly been a part of our lives from ancient times. Is there anyone who hasn’t used a leather product some time or the other? Not likely. Whether you swear by leather bags, have an exceptional love for leather shoes, or prefer to limit the use of leather in your life, the material has carved its presence forever.
But not everyone feels confident and comfortable buying leather bags. Why is that? With so many options in the market, how are we to know which is the best? And should we even add that the best comes at a terrifyingly high price? Just have a look at the price tags of the famous brands.
Sigh! We know that the price tag is more than enough to make us think twice.
But hey, guess what? By knowing a little more about leather, you can actually buy high-quality leather bags for cost-effective prices. Not cheap, mind you. But comparatively lesser than what the global brands cost.
That’s wonderful, isn’t it? We are elated when people want to know more about the material they love to use. The first thing you need to know about leather is the type. This depends on which layer of animal hide is used to make leather.
Every product is graded based on the quality of the raw materials, and leather is no different. Since it comes from animal skin, we grade leather based on the same. That’s interesting, right?
If you hear the term full-grain, know that it’s the best quality of leather you can get. Why is that? We’ll explain.
Full-grain leather is made from the top layer of animal skin. This layer is naturally thick and resistant to water. The grains (texture) are also packed tightly to increase the durability and sturdiness of the material. So this top layer is tanned (carefully) to retain its natural strength and increase its life span. Then it is processed and sewed into a beautiful leather bag.
All that sounds good, but what makes full-grain leather special? Will you take a guess?
Well, we’ll answer it. Full-grain leather ages beautifully. It means that the older your leather bag gets, the smoother it will be. We could say that an aged full-grain leather bag is the epitome of class and quality.
Er... top grain? Aha! We knew it is rather confusing. Don’t fret, though. The explanation is simple enough. Top grain comes after full-grain and is made from the second layer of the skin. The imperfections in the surface are removed by sanding and buffing to make it smooth and soft.
Yeah, that makes top grain leather achieve the uniform look. But it also means that it's not as durable as full-grain and is thinner as well. Still, it is the second-best option and comes for a lesser price (not surprising, right?). We wouldn’t ignore top grin leather bags, mind you. These are beauties too.
Are you wondering why genuine leather comes in the middle? If it’s genuine, it should be at the top of the list, right? Actually, no. Genuine here doesn’t mean that the leather is of the best quality. In fact, it’s of the lowest quality. Yikes! Yes. But it is still made of real animal skin, so that’s something.
This type of leather is usually made by bonding several layers of low-quality leather. Naturally, genuine leather doesn’t last long and doesn’t look as good as full-grain and top-grain leather. However, it comes at an affordable price.
Also known as belting or strapping leather, this type is thicker and heavier. It is usually used in creating upholstery (yeah, that lovely couch you saw was probably made of this leather), though saddle leather is quite versatile.
Do you know that wallets and handbags can also be made of saddle leather? Not just that, your saddle leather bag could very well last for 100 years. Absolutely! Now, that’s an investment we’d love to make, isn’t it?
Next, we move on to know a little more about different types of animal leather. Already?
You’re right. There are many other types of leather manufactured in the market. But we’ve listed only the important ones used to make leather bags. Moreover, we need to focus on quality also, right?
Another name for goat leather is Morocco leather since it was traditionally sourced from that region. Of course, by the early 1900s, European tanneries gained enough experience to process goat leather in the continent.
But what makes goat leather so famous that it hass been in demand for centuries? Well, for one, goat leather is soft. It is light, water-resistant (obviously), and resilient. The leather has dense fibres that give it a grainy and coarse texture. It’s just beautiful to touch. Goat leather bags can last for 5-6 years if they have a canvas lining inside.
But yeah, remember that you do need to take care of the bag. Just like other types of leather, goat leather also doesn’t do well in wet and humid conditions. Leave it to try naturally, and then give a light polish using leather wax.
Cowhide leather is the most common leather out there in the market. It’s so versatile that you can make just about any item out of it. It doesn’t matter whether the skin belongs to a younger cow or a seasoned one. These leather bags can last a lifetime.
And yes, it is water-resistant too. Is it heavier? Oh, yeah. Cowhide leather is rather heavy, but that’s hardly a problem. Cowhide bags are sturdy and reliable. You don’t have to doubt the quality of these bags, especially if you buy them from High on Leather. The bag will easily last for 7-10 years. Shall we see if we can stretch its durability beyond a decade? *wink*
Well, buffalo hide is not too different from cowhide, though it is even thicker and stronger. To be precise, buffalo leather is 2-3 times thicker than cow leather, and this translates to its durability and strength. Buffalo leather bags are quite famous for their dependability. This leather is also used for various items, be it a travel bag, a pair of sturdy shoes, or a thick jacket. Moreover, do you know that mats are also made using buffalo leather? The leather has great elasticity and is water-resistant. Why else do you think buffalo leather travel bags are so reliable and just as good-looking?
Hey, the list no way ends here. Leather is made from numerous other animal skins like pigs, a baby goat (kidskin), alligator, crocodile, snake, and even fish like stingray and catfish. Right! So how do we know that the leather bag is actually of good quality? Will the skin of any cow or a buffalo be considered the best, or are there any aspects we need to consider?
That’s a good question and something we already anticipated from you. We’ve got the answer right here. Read away.
Not all cowhide is of the same quality. Some of it is superior, and some inferior (yeah, you guessed it right). But how do we know? Take a look below.
To summarise, if you want a high-quality leather bag, it needs to be made from the hide of a younger female animal that has lived in neutral to warm temperatures and open pastures. Phew!
What’s next now? We’ll talk about the durability of the leather bags. We’ve already mentioned how long each type of leather bag can last. But that’s the average lifespan and is subject to various factors. So what are those factors? Check the next section.
As you would have guessed there are many other factors that decide the durability of a leather bag. However, these are the primary ones you should ask about.
We hope you are now armed with all the information needed to buy a high-quality leather bag that matches your taste, style, and personality. Even full-grain leather doesn’t have to be too expensive if you know where to buy it.
Yep. High on Leather is a great place to buy awesome leather bags designed for men and women. Pick and choose from the multitude of designs listed on the site. Since the company sources leather from the meat industry, you don’t have to worry about harming an animal to make you a leather bag. Go ahead. Happy shopping!
Karan Singh, AKA Seo Singh, is a Podcaster, Content Marketer, and SEO Consultant with 10+ years of experience. He also runs a content marketing agency and actively invests in Gyms, Salons, and E-commerce stores. Checkout more on https://seosingh.in/
July 19, 2016
It is true, I have my one leather bag, which is 5 years old and it still seems like very fresh and very beautiful. Leather bags are evergreen bags and always look awesome. These leather bags are so beautiful and attracting me a lot. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks
Adena Harel
http://www.lapampa-shop.co.il
July 13, 2016
Cow hide and goat skins vary from country to country depending on husbandry, slaughter methods, tanning process, age of the animal and the finishing.
Cow hides are no more abrasion resistant than a goat skin if the finish is open and soft.
Tanning is a highly technical and advanced process, it is a little simplistic to just reduce it to hide type.
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by Seo Singh May 14, 2022 4 min read
by Seo Singh May 08, 2022 5 min read
by Seo Singh May 03, 2022 5 min read
We all know that we love leather! It’s luxurious, soft, stylish, yet incredibly durable. Now we know why humans have relied on leather to adorn our lives for centuries.
henrietta
March 15, 2017
Ecuadorian leather ranks among the best in the world. My dad belt from ecuador was passed on to me and im still using it almost daily without any sign of beating.
He bought it in early 1990s.