Know Your Leather
Be an informed buyer. Know your leather before you buy.
Don't fall for low-quality or fake leather. It is important to know the leather types and the terms that you will come across while hunting for high-quality products. All our bags are made with selected full-grain, the first layer or top-grain genuine cow leather, we never make bags with second layer leather, fake leather or any other poor quality leather.
What is full-grain leather?
In short, the outermost layer of the hide. This is the toughest and most durable element of the hide of an animal, situated just below the coat. The grain pattern in this section of the hide is very taut which is why this particular leather has been titled "full-grain" leather.
Full-grain leather is the strongest and most durable leather meaning that over time, full-grain leather will only intensify its stately charm. It will do so developing a polish from being handled as opposed to other types of leather which can and will ultimately diminish with wear.
In other words, full-grain leather refers to hides that have not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed (as opposed to top-grain or corrected leather) to remove imperfections (or natural marks) on the surface of the hide. The grain remains to allow the fiber strength and durability. The grain also has breathability, resulting in less moisture from prolonged contact.
However, even the highest quality full-grain leather will have small irregularities, which makes it all the more unique. From healed scrapes where the animal possibly brushed against a wired fence, to insect bites or thicker surface areas and neck wrinkles, or even vein marks. Well we all have them, right? These slight irregularities are embraced and incorporated into our products to showcase each product's natural individuality and their handcrafted nature. And the great thing about it is, with more use it keeps getting smoother, richer and classic.
What is Top-Grain Leather?
Top-grain leather (the most common type in high-end leather products) is made when Full-grain surface has been lightly sanded and a finish coat added. It helps to remove the scratches and irregularities of the outer surface and makes the leather more pliable, or easy to bend. Top-grain has greater stain resistance than full-grain leather if the finish remains unbroken.
Crazy Horse Leather
Recently there has been an overwhelming craze about the crazy horse leather. People have been asking what exactly is crazy horse leather and how it is made of?
How is it made of?
Crazy horse leather which also can be called saddle leather is made by applying a special kind of wax to a full-grain leather surface that has been smoothed out. The wax enhances the leather fibers and that way when they are scratched or rubbed, the leather's natural color changes its shade that gives the antique, vintage appearance.
Why is it called the crazy horse leather?
Crazy horse leather does not come from horses rather it got the name because this type of leather is very popular with horse saddles, it may be called saddle leather.
Crazy Horse leather will absorb the oils from your hands, adding character to your chosen piece. This natural process will cause the leather to form a glossy layer making the product look even more exceptional than before. When scraped, it will change its color and will give it a worn-out appearance. This allows you to make your favorite brand new item look rugged, rare and matured.
Why does the crazy horse leather feel 'waxy'? and looks like it has scratches on it.
The process of making the crazy horse leather is by applying wax to the leather which creates a unique effect just by giving it little rubs and scratches, it will cause small changes to the material's shape and appearance. This gives it a unique rustic, vintage look which ages beautifully over time. Naturally, through wear and tear, the crazy horse will become leave scratches, the scratched areas and rubbed areas that show the changes in the shades of colors truly reflects the vintage look.
Advantages of crazy horse leather
Crazy horse leather is durable, strong, and of course, it gives a unique look and feels which combines luxury and antique touch. With the wax applied to the leather, it protects the leather with water-resistant and makes it more durable.
We hope you liked this crash course of leather insights, you can resume your shopping now! :)