Full Grain Leather: Main Features
Full-grain leather represents the surface layer of the animal's epidermis (the one to which the hairs are attached), and which has not undergone particular processes that have altered its natural appearance. When it comes to leather in general, it is important to make some important distinctions between all the types you can find on the market. Those looking for the finest materials, should refer to this type of leather: the full grain leather. This material turns out to be the most natural of its category and knows no rivals in terms of quality. The tanning of this type of leather can be done both chromium and vegetable and the price per square meter, as a consequence of the high quality, is usually very high.
Is Full Grain Leather Real Leather?
Many wonder whether full-grain leather is "genuine leather", and the answer is obviously yes; indeed, this type of leather is the maximum expression of the "real leather" because in addition to being produced starting from the most precious layer of the animal's epidermis (the outer one), as mentioned previously, it does not have finishes that tend to mask the defects or to alter their appearance, showing off the natural characteristics of the animal.
What is better “Top Grain” or “Full Grain” Leather?
When talking about the difference between full grain and top grain leather it is good to point out that these are two separate concepts: when we talk about full grain leather we refer mainly to the type of finishing used, which does not have to be "covering", while for the top grain leather, we mean a leather which is generically obtained from the external part of the animal without entering into the merit of the finish that can then be of various types, more or less natural, covering and altering. What contrasts with the term "full grain" is therefore not "top grain" but rather “corrected grain leather”.
"Full Grain" Leather Vs "Corrected Grain" Leather
The full grain leather, as already anticipated, has a natural finish, which leaves the original appearance of the epidermis unaltered; the second one sees the skin undergo heavy processes aimed at radically changing its appearance or masking its defects. The finishing of the first category includes: aniline, semi-aniline, dry-milling, crust, sanded; while the leathers with the corrected grain may derive from these finishes: pigmented, printed, brushed-off, patent and laminated. Below we can see examples of leathers with the corrected grain.
How to identify full grain leather
It is quite easy to recognize a full grain skin: one should be able, by looking at it very closely, to identify with the naked eye the small pores of the skin, those on which the animal's fur was attached. Entering more on the merits, the more the starting animal is adult or big and the easier it is to identify these pores, therefore, for example, it will be more difficult on a baby calf rather than a cow, but in any case, possible. In the picture we see an example of full-grain leather.
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Full Grain Leather: why is it considered a fine leather?
To adequately describe this unique material, one cannot ignore its qualitative characteristics. As mentioned previously, full-grain leather is a skin with extremely natural features, this particularity is underlined by the incredible softness (or stiffness depending on the case) and by unique characteristics to the touch as the important silky effect. The unmistakable naturalness of full-grain leather also manifests itself in the form of wrinkles typical of the material: for this reason, any imprecision or superficial discontinuity should be understood as a value and not as a defect, because it represents a sign of quality of the skin itself. All these characteristics are the manifestation of the few processes to which the material has been subjected: in particular, there is a tendency not to smooth, polish and, above all, to not superficially touch the skin in question with pigments or other types of "invasive" workings. Another fundamental characteristic that gives value to the material is the presence of the typical pores of the skin, which, in this case, are clearly open and visible.
Main Uses of Full Grain Leather Hides
Such fine leather lends itself to high quality uses. The most traditional uses are, without a doubt, leather goods (bags, belts, accessories), clothing, upholstery of high-end sofas and armchairs, or even the manufacture of luxury shoes. All this is possible thanks to a formidable resistance and, above all, thanks to a transpiration that knows no competitors among the other types of skin. Among the best leather products on the market, full-grain leather is particularly appreciated by those who give importance to elegance and quality.
