Today's Tip: Leather

When buying leather goods know leather types for quality and the best buy.

Leather types

In general, leather is sold in several forms:

• Full-grain leather- footwear is made from full-grain leather.
• Top-grain leather is the second-highest quality and has had the "split" layer separated away, making it thinner and more pliable than full grain.  It is typically less expensive, and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.
• Split leather then has an artificial layer applied to the surface of the split and is embossed with a leather grain. Splits are  used to create suede. 
• Patent leather is leather that has been given a high-gloss finish. Patent leather usually has a plastic coating.
• Shagreen is also known as stingray skin/leather.  luggage and handbags. The leather is left untreated and is therefore susceptible to water and stains. Sunlight will cause the natural leather to darken in shade.skins. 
• Deerskin is used in jackets and overcoats, as well as personal accessories like handbags and wallets.
• Nubuck is top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside,  producing a velvet-like surface.
• Napa leather, is chrome-tanned and is soft and supple. It is commonly found in wallets, toiletry kits, and other personal leather goods.
• Vachetta leather is used in the trimmings of luggage and handbags. The leather is left untreated and is therefore susceptible to water and stains. Sunlight will cause the natural leather to darken in shade
• Slink is leather made from the skin of unborn calves. It is particularly soft, and is valued for use in making gloves.
• Corrected grain is typically less expensive, and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.