It can be difficult for a newcomer to determine which term is most appropriate given the prevalence of terms like “corrected grain,” “full grain,” and “top grain” in the leather goods industry. It is important to identify the full grain and corrected grain terms, as both relate to how the material of a leather item is divided into distinct types.
To help you decide which one you like best, we’ll compare full grain and corrected grain leather in this article. But first, let’s look at where leather comes from and the process it goes through.
Leather made from animal hides
Because of their size, availability, and exceptional leather quality, cows produce the majority of the leather used today. Horses, kangaroos, pigs, sheep, deer, and other animals are also frequently used to harvest leather, depending on the use. A few of the more unusual leathers are also derived from alligators, ostriches, elephants, snakes, frogs, and stingrays. Rough lamb hides are a waste product and often disposed of by tannery workers.
The Tannery Process
Before they are cut to create leather goods, all leather hides go through a tanning process. Tanning is done by mixing salt water with various minerals (such as zinc or copper) in order to extract tannic acids from the hides or expose the leather to sunlight. These tannic acids interact with the hide’s collagen proteins to produce molecules known as tanning agents or leather precursors. The number of tanning agents in the skins varies from animal to animal.
Full Grain Leather vs. Corrected Grain Leather
The strongest and most durable part of the hide of an animal is just below the hair. The grain pattern in this part of the hide is very tight, and the leather made from here is called “full-grain” leather. Additionally, since the grain is so tight, it resists moisture very well. Over time, full-grain leather will look nicer and nicer and develop a patina from being handled.
Corrected grain leather, on the other hand, is a leather hide whose surface has been altered or corrected. During the production process, the hide is frequently sanded or buffed on the grain side to remove imperfections and obtain a more uniform surface, and the leather is often coated with a semi-aniline or pigmented dye. Corrected grain leather’s embossed surface can be an artificial leather grain, or an animal print, such as an alligator pattern.
How are they made?
When it comes to corrected grain, the cowhide that has been more severely scarred and clearly flawed is buffed after tanning to get rid of the markings. Similar to how smoothing wood alters the surface grain, so does this process.
There are different grades of corrected grain leather, depending on the degree of correction. The less correction, the better. However, there is no standard grade. Every tannery assigns grades based on its own standards. Others start at 5,000 (the lowest) and end at 1000, while others start at 100 (the lowest) and end at 700 (the highest), etc.
The most popular type of correction is to sand down the surface, take some of the natural grain out, and then emboss a regular grain pattern. Another type of correction involves lightly buffing the hide to get rid of the grain’s peaks and valleys. This increases the surface’s resilience. Corrected grain leather should perform admirably if created by a tannery with experience in creating leather for upholstery.
However, other than carefully removing the hair from the hide, nothing else is changed when producing full grain leather. Full grain leather makes a point of preserving the integrity of the hide because the grain is where a cowhide gets all of its strength and durability.
Since full grain leather is thought to be the best leather, many people choose to use it for their bags and accessories.
How can you tell which is which?
You can recognize full grain leather by the subtle pattern that the natural pores and hair follicles create on the grain’s outer surface. There are other visible characteristics as well. The grain protects animals from little annoyances, like bug bites and scratches from sharp objects. These marks and scratches can create permanent, visible scars on the grain. Many companies sand down the grain of lesser-quality hides in order to remove these imperfections. Full grain leather, on the other hand, preserves these little marks on the cowhide, leaving the grain completely unaltered and protecting the natural strength, durability, and beauty of the leather.
Which one is better?
Which is better, one might ask? Full grain leather often has imperfections or marks that can make it less appealing. However, full grain leather does provide natural beauty and strength, which are important features for items like bags and accessories. Full-grain leather is the longest lasting, highest quality grade of leather available. It holds the pattern of the animal’s skin and has a soft, natural look and feel. Because it comes from the top layer of the cow’s hide, full grain leather is stronger and more breathable than others. This is why it is considered to be the best leather.
If you want to wear a particular pair of shoes, a particular set of furniture, or other items made of leather, it is crucial to select the right kind. Some of the qualities required for leather to be considered high quality are long wearability, firmness, uniform color and pattern, toughness and elasticity, and functionality. And so, in order to be certain that a particular brand of leather is of high quality, the first step should be to make sure that the individual or company producing it meets the requirements for quality. If the end product meets the strict quality requirements, then it is authentic.