A

Aged Leather: Leather that has been treated or naturally developed a patina over time, showing character and wear.

Aniline Leather: Leather dyed with soluble dyes that preserve the natural surface, including marks and imperfections, for a soft, natural look.

Antiqued Leather: Leather treated to have a worn, vintage appearance, often with two-tone color effects.

Artificial Grain: A surface pattern applied to corrected-grain leather to simulate the natural texture of full-grain leather.

 

B

Blemish: Natural or accidental imperfection on the surface of leather, such as scars, scratches, insect bites, or stretch marks, that occurs during the animal's life or processing.

Brand: Permanent mark or scar on a leather hide caused by branding the animal, typically for identification purposes. 

Buffed Leather: Leather that has been sanded or polished to create a smooth surface or remove imperfections.

 

C

Chrome-Tanned Leather: Leather tanned using chromium salts, resulting in a soft, flexible, and water-resistant finish.

Corrected Grain Leather: Leather that has been sanded or buffed to remove imperfections and embossed with an artificial grain.

Crust Leather: Leather that has been tanned but not yet dyed or finished, leaving it in its natural, unfinished state.

D

Defect: An imperfection or flaw in leather that may occur naturally, such as scars, or during processing, such as uneven dyeing or holes. 

Distressed Leather: Leather that has been intentionally treated to give it a worn, aged, or rugged appearance. 

Drum-Dyed: Leather dyed in a rotating drum for deep, even color penetration.

 

E

Embossed Leather: Leather that has been stamped with patterns or textures, such as crocodile or floral designs.

 

F

Fat Wrinkle: Natural creases or ripples in leather caused by the animal's fat deposits during its life. These wrinkles are most commonly found in full-grain leather and are considered a characteristic that adds to the leather's authenticity and unique appearance. 

Finish: The surface treatment of leather, including coatings, embossing, or dyes that define the final look and feel.

Foil Leather: Leather with a metallic or foil-like finish applied for a decorative effect.

Full-Grain Leather: The highest quality leather that retains the natural grain and imperfections of the hide, known for durability and aging beautifully.

 

G

Glazed Leather: Leather with a shiny finish achieved through polishing or adding a clear coat.

Grain: The natural surface texture of the hide, including pores, wrinkles, and patterns.

 

H

Hair-On Hide: Leather with the animal’s hair left intact, often used for rugs or decorative purposes.

Hand: Term used to describe the feel and texture of leather when touched. 

Hide: The entire skin of a large animal that has been processed and tanned to create leather. 

 

L

Leather Split: The underside layer of leather, often used for suede or as a base for embossed textures.

 

M

Matte Finish: A non-shiny, flat finish often used for a more natural appearance.

Milled Leather: Leather tumbled in a drum to soften it and enhance its natural texture.

 

N

Nappa Leather: A soft and supple leather, usually made from sheep or goat hides, with a smooth surface.

Nubuck: Leather with a soft, velvety texture created by lightly sanding the outer layer of the hide.

 

O 

Oil-Tanned Leather: Leather treated with oils during the tanning process to create a soft, pliable, and water-resistant finish.

 

P

Patent Leather: Leather with a glossy, high-shine finish, often created by adding a coating of lacquer or plastic.

Patina: The natural sheen or darkening that develops on leather over time with use and exposure.

Pebbled Leather: Leather with a raised, textured surface that mimics small, rounded bumps, often created through embossing.

Perforated Leather: Leather that has been evenly punched with small, spaced holes in a specific pattern. 

Pigmented Leather: Leather coated with pigments for uniform color and added durability.

Pull-Up Leather: Leather that lightens in color when stretched or bent, giving it a distressed, rugged appearance.

 

R

Rawhide: Untanned hide, typically stiff and used for non-leather purposes like drumheads or furniture accents.

 

S

Semi-Aniline Leather: Leather dyed with soluble dyes and finished with a protective coating for added durability.

Shearling: Leather with the wool from the animal left intact on one side, often used for garments and accessories.

Shaving / Skiving: The process of thinning leather to achieve a consistent thickness.

Split Leather: The lower layers of a hide separated from the top grain, often used for suede or embossed leathers.

Suede: A soft, velvety leather made from the underside of the hide.

 

T

Tanning: The process of treating animal hides to produce durable leather. Common methods include chrome and vegetable tanning.

Thickness (Ounces): Leather is measured in ounces, where 1 ounce equals approximately 1/64 inch thick. Common thicknesses are 3-4 oz for garments and 8-9 oz for belts.

Top-Grain Leather: Leather that has been sanded or corrected to remove imperfections while maintaining a durable and high-quality surface.

Tooling Leather: Vegetable-tanned leather that is firm enough for stamping or carving designs.

 

U

Upholstery Leather: Leather specifically processed and finished for furniture, car seats, and other heavy-use applications.

 

V

Vegetable-Tanned Leather: Leather tanned using natural tannins from tree bark, resulting in a firm texture and natural, earthy look.

 

W

Waxed Leather: Leather treated with wax for a glossy finish and water resistance.

Wet Blue: Leather that is chrome-tanned and still moist, ready for further processing.

Weathered Leather: Leather intentionally treated or aged to create a distressed, rugged look.

Whole Hide: The full, uncut piece of leather from a single animal.