What’s so Great About Full-grain Veg-tan Leather?

My first big leather purchase was upholstery leather because it’s soft and easy to sew. I didn’t really know much about where leather came from or how it’s made - leather is leather, right?! Most of the leather goods you’ve probably ever bought were made of low-grade “genuine leather” or “bonded leather”. These poor quality leathers are like particle board leather held together with glue, painted and destined to crack or peel with heavy use and eventually end up in the garbage.

The next best grade is top-grain, which means the grain has been corrected by shaving off the top layer and then stamped with a pattern so it’s very uniform in appearance. Top-grain leathers are generally quite good quality and most luxury brands use top-grain because of the consistent grain.

Full-grain leather is the whole hide being utilized! You might see scars or scratches or even branding marks. Full-grain is the best quality leather you can find.

Vegetable tanned refers to the process of tanning. The other types of processes are chrome tanned or a combination of both. Veg-tanned leather is made by skilled artisans using natural tannins, like bark or seeds and the process can take months. Vegetable tanning is a more environmentally friendly process over chrome tanned and the resulting leather will develop a darker, shiny patina as it wears. Chrome tanning uses chromium salts and other chemicals, is quicker and was developed for mass production. Usually chrome tanned leathers are softer and in brighter colors.

But what is it about vegetable-tanned leather that’s so appealing and wonderful?! Is it the smell (heavenly), or the feel (silky), the creaky sound, or the way it patinas and ages and will probably be around longer than we will? There’s just no other material like it.