Everything you need to know about the types of leather materials

The types of leather materials include natural leather (top, second layer & synthetic leather), artificial leather (PVC, PU leather), and recycled leather.

Leather is non-perishable animal skin. It has a special grain layer on its surface. Therefore, the leather has a natural grain and luster and is comfortable to the touch. Let’s take a look together.

Comparison of pros and cons of different leathers

Types of leather materials
ProsCons
Genuine leather
Soft and elasticExpensive
Faux leatherWide variety of designs and colors, lifelike appearance, easy to take care ofThe leather surface is astringent, rigid, and poor in softness
Regenerated leatherRelatively neat leather edge, high utilization rate, cheap priceThicker and weaker skin

What is natural leather?

Genuine leather refers to natural leather processed from animal skins. According to its type, there are mainly pig leather, cow leather, sheep leather, horse leather, donkey leather, and kangaroo leather. But, there is also a small amount of fish leather, reptile leather, amphibian leather, and ostrich leather. Among them, cow leather is divided into yellow cow leather, buffalo leather, yak leather, and yak leather. Sheep leather includes sheep leather and goat leather.

Top layer leather

What is the top layer of leather?

-The top layer of the cowhide is the upper skin of the cow’s body. Its surface has raw skin features.

Pros and cons:

The leather surface of the first layer of cowhide has clear pores and texture. It has good natural properties. And the appearance is flat and soft. The texture is firm and elastic to the touch. But, It is easier to damage.

Top layer leather
Image from: acctrims

Distinguish:

To identify the quality of the top layer of cowhide, it is necessary to observe whether the cross-section of the leather is intact. If it is a high-quality top layer of cowhide, you can clearly see the compact cross-sectional structure. But, if it is inferior top layer cowhide, its cross section looks very rough.

Cleaning and maintenance

  1. Clean up frequently. Keep the pores on the surface of the cowhide from being blocked by dust. Moreover, keep indoor ventilation frequently.
  2. When cleaning at ordinary times, be sure to use pure cotton cloth or silk to moisten it and wipe it gently to keep it clean.
  3. If there is a pen mark, it can be removed by gently wiping it with an eraser for a short time.
  4. Do not expose to the sun, fire, wash, or hit with sharp objects or contact with chemical solvents.
  5. Keep dry and store in a cool and ventilated place.

Second layer leather

What is the second layer of leather?

-The second layer of the cowhide is added with PVC and PU materials to rebond the leather. Therefore, it is suitable for making leather products. Moreover, it looks very classy. Also, the appearance is indistinguishable from the first layer of skin.

Second layer leather

Pros and cons:

The texture is relatively loose and has certain elasticity and plasticity. The price is cheaper than the first layer of cowhide. However, the durability and strength are not as good as the first layer of cowhide.

Distinguish:

The smell of the second layer of cowhide will be less pleasant. Then, the top layer of yellow cowhide has only a faint smell.

Cleaning and maintenance

Try to use a semi-wet cloth to clean off the dirt on the leather surface. If you encounter oils that are not easy to wash, you can add some usual detergent to a semi-wet cloth. Then, wipe with a clean cloth.

Synthetic leather

Synthetic leather is also called PU leather. It is made by coating PU resin (a polymer material) on cloth.

Pros and cons:

It is light and easy to process. Moreover, it is wear-resistant and inexpensive. However, it has poor air permeability and is prone to cracking.

Distinguish:

Synthetic leather has a uniform thickness and a smooth surface. But no natural defects. The pores and patterns are also very uniform. In general, there is no pile in the leather.

Cleaning and maintenance

When wiping, use dry wiping and water wiping. In addition, do not place related products in a space with high humidity. Excessive humidity will cause damage to the surface film and shorten the service life.

Artificial leather

Artificial leather is an extremely popular leather material. We can use it to make various leather products. And it can also replace part of the leather material.

In addition, its surface technology almost achieves the effect of genuine leather. Therefore, its price is also comparable to that of domestic top-layer leather.

PVC artificial leather

Its advantages are high product strength, easy processing, and low cost.

The disadvantage is poor oil resistance and high-temperature resistance. And it’s not that soft to the touch. So the feel is poor.

We can use them for all kinds of bags, seat covers, linings, sundries, etc.

PU artificial leather

PU artificial leather also has good breathability and warmth. Especially, it is more comfortable to wear when we make it into clothes.

Pu artificial leather has a smell of plastic. The severity of this taste is related to the quality of PU artificial leather. And it is suitable for the decoration of bags, clothing, shoes, vehicles, and furniture.

PU synthetic leather

PU synthetic leather is cheap and rich in color and pattern. But, it tends to harden and become brittle.

Therefore, it is suitable for the decoration of bags, clothing, shoes, vehicles, and furniture.

Recycled leather

Regenerated leather is moisture-wicking and breathable. Well-made regenerated leather also has the softness of real leather. Plus, they’re stretchy and lightweight. Moreover, it has strong resistance to extreme high and low temperatures. And it is wear-resistant. However, they are weaker than dermis of equal thickness. Of course, it is worse than PU.

types of leather materials: recycled leather

Therefore, it is only suitable for making stereotyped craft products. Such as cheap briefcases, trolley bags, club covers, and cheap belts.

In conclusion

Real leather, faux leather, and synthetic leather are common types of leather materials. They each have their own strengths. Therefore, customers can choose the leather material that suits them. Acctrims supplies leather products for various clothing, shoes & hats, and bag brand companies. Such as leather labels, leather tags, leather patches, leather bags, leather hang tags, and belts. You can customize your brand logo on it. Any color, size, or type is ok. If you have questions, please contact us. We will serve you wholeheartedly. We are the garment trims and accessories manufacturer and supplier.

How many types of leather belts are there?

There are many types of leather belts for men and women, they are decorations for trousers that are often used in daily life. And they can also play a role in fixing trousers or skirts. Therefore, when purchasing, you must find the belt that suits you. It is also more comfortable to use. So how many types of leather belts are there? How many kinds of belt buckles are there? What should we pay attention to when buying leather belts every day? Here are some suggestions for you to refer to.

Types of leather belts

Leather belt for men

According to gender, there are male belts and female belts. Generally, male belts will be thicker. Because boys’ pants will be wider.

Leather belt for men

Therefore, male belts will be larger. Many bosses or businessmen are used to wearing trousers. Therefore, they need to wear a pair of suitable trousers. Only in this way can they look more energetic and have a taller figure.

Leather belt for women

Women’s belts will appear more delicate. Moreover, there are relatively more colors and types of leather belts. Because women are more beautiful. Therefore, the corresponding belt also has many styles. Women’s belts will be smaller. Because many women wear belts not to fix pants, but simply to look good and beautiful. Therefore, many women’s belts are just decorations.

types of leather belts: Leather belt for women

Top-layer leather belts

This kind of types of leather belts is made of top-layer leather processed from animal leather. The quality of their doors is very good. Water resistance is also very good. The top layer refers to the layer of animal skin with long hair.

Top-layer leather belts

The quality is very good. Among all leather products, the quality and feel of belts made of first-grain leather are the best. Because it is generally made of animal leather such as pigskin, cowhide, fish skin, etc. It feels very good to use.

Second-layer leather belts

Compared with the first layer of leather, the quality of the belt made of the second layer of leather is relatively poor. Therefore, a comparison should be made during the purchase process.

If you want to buy a belt that is used for a long time, you can choose the first layer types of leather belts. If you just want to use it for a period of time, it will be relatively cheaper to buy a two-layer leather belt. However, its feel and quality are relatively poor.

Second-layer leather belts DSC9341

PU leather belts

PU leather belts are made of artificial leather. In general, the second layer of animal skin is added. Then add some chemical raw materials and make it. It’s very easy to get. Therefore, PU belts are very cheap compared to other belts. The overall appearance of the artificial belt is also very good. But the quality is not necessarily good. It is very important that individuals can choose according to their own economic conditions.

How to choose a right belt according to the types of leather belts?

1, Choose a high-quality leather belt

Choose a high-quality leather belt

Although some people think that they only buy a belt for occasional wear, not for a long time. But it is still recommended to buy a top-grain leather belt. Its quality is better and it can be used for a longer period of time. If you buy split leather or artificial leather, it is easy to have cracks on the surface. It doesn’t look good over time.

2, Choose a versatile belt

When choosing a belt, women should choose a belt that suits their clothes.

Especially if it is used for decoration, it is very important. Choose a belt that is more versatile, so that you can wear any clothes or pants They all fit very well. Try to choose a dark or black belt, which will be easier to match.

Choose a versatile belt

3, Choose the belt that suits you

The type of leather belts that everyone needs are different. Therefore, you need to buy a belt that suits you during the purchase process. This will make it more comfortable to use. If you are accustomed to using an automatic buckle belt, choose an automatic buckle belt. This will make it more comfortable for you to use.

Types of belt buckles

Automatic buckle belts

Automatic buckle belts

An automatic buckle belt is a belt that can be buckled automatically. It is easy to adjust when using. Therefore, many people like to use automatic buckle belts. This is also very convenient when you want to go to the toilet. Just pull it out a little to untie it, and snap it in to snap it in place. Such a handy leash really fits all men.

Pin buckle belts

There are some holes at the end of the belt of pin buckle belt. At this time, put the pin on the belt buckle into the hole. This will fasten the belt.

Also, it looks good on the outside too. However, the pin buckle belt is more troublesome, and it needs to be tightened after buckling. So not too many people use it. Moreover, some holes on the belt also affect the appearance of the belt. Therefore, individuals should choose according to their own needs when purchasing.

Pin buckle belts

Plate buckle belts

The use process of the plate buckle belt is similar to that of the automatic buckle.

Plate buckle belts

It uses a more beautiful plate to fix the belt. Therefore, pay more attention to the application of the belt during use. However, it is actually very convenient to use. If you want to fasten it, just buckle it in slightly. If you want to open it, just break the board out with your hands. This will allow you to easily untie your belt.

In conclusion

The above are the common types of leather belts. Hope it can help you. Our company makes and supply custom leather belts, leather labels, leather belt buckles, and metal slider buckles for belts. If you need customization, please contact us.

What are the main leather fabrics? What garments can be used for?

There are many main leather fabrics such as natural capillary, natural rough fur, faux fur, pure/full/semi aniline, trimmed, full/half grain, split and more. Leather is composed of natural protein fibers tightly woven in three dimensions. Its surface has a special grain layer. So it has a natural grain and luster and is comfortable to the touch. So, what are the main leather fabrics? What kind of clothing can they be used on?

leather labels material

Main leather fabrics

1, Natural size capillary

Natural large capillary leather mainly includes fox fur, mink skin, lynx skin, and badger skin. And we often use it to make high-end children’s hats, coats, and capes. Natural small capillary leather mainly includes sable, mink, squirrel, ferret, and so on. This kind of capillary is short and soft, suitable for high-end children’s coats, hats, scarves, shawls, etc.

2, Natural rough fur

Commonly used natural rough fur leathers include sheepskin, dog skin, wolf skin, leopard skin, etc. The hair is long and wide. It can be used to make hats, coats, vests, linings, etc.

Natural rough fur

3, Artificial leather

Artificial leather is made by mixing various types of chemical fibers. Faux fur has a larger format. Can be dyed in a variety of bright colors. In addition, it has the appearance of animal fur. Various wild and farmed fur species can be imitated. But its biggest feature is that it is not environmentally friendly, not easy to degrade, and pollutes the environment.

leather label fabrics 02

4, Pure aniline

Leather decorated with no pigments but only dyes with aniline effect are the best leather in the world. Those who love truly natural products will especially like this leather. 5% of world leather production falls into this category. Only some Grade A leathers meet the criteria for this category. This leather does not have any finishing. Maybe just a thin coat of wax or a light coat of oil to enhance the feel and aesthetics. Machine breaking or buffing is usually the finishing touch for this type of leather.

leather label fabrics 03

5, All-aniline

As with pure aniline leather, only some of the finest leathers in the world fall into this category. The only difference between it and pure aniline leather is that the raw leather used will be a slightly lower grade. There is only a thin protective layer on the surface. We usually use wax and transparent pigments to coat it on the surface.

All-aniline

6, Semi-aniline

This leather requires a little more work and has a little finish. Spray the paint lightly on the surface of the leather to even out the color and hide any existing imperfections. This leather has good light fastness and scratch resistance, and is easy to clean. 10-15% of world leather production belongs to this leather. Most B-grade leathers meet the criteria for this category. Many discolored types of leather begin by lightly sanding and smoothing the grain.

leather label fabrics 05

7, Trim the surface

The grain surface is partially buffed away to lessen the effects of grain imperfections. A false grain is then created through various finishing methods to mimic full-grain leather. 18% of the world’s leather production belongs to this leather. This kind of leather has undergone more processing. Such as: frosting, sanding, embossing, and paint to cover up the original flaws.

The top layer of leather is the outer leather with grain. About 0.9 to 1.5mm. This kind of leather very obviously needs to be sanded. Because it has no use other than artificially creating a fake grain surface to replace the original surface. The remaining 65% of world leather production is unsuitable for furniture. We can only use them to make shoes, clothes, belts, handbags, and car seat cushions.

leather fabrics for shoes

8, Full grain

This is leather in which the grain pattern remains intact and the natural pores and grain are clearly visible. The better the leather, the fewer touch-ups are needed. The original grain of cheap leather is buffed away and painted. They are not as soft as full-grain leather. Although a layer of paint covers it, the original texture variation is still visible.

leather label fabrics 07

9, Half grain

We lightly buff only part of the grain of the leather. However, that part of the grain that has not been worn off remains on the entire leather surface. Leather with natural pores and texture still visible on the grain. Basically, half-grain leather is not split.

10, Splitting leather

The skin is divided into several layers, and the one with the grain is called the first layer of skin. The following are the second layer of skin and the third layer of skin. And the one with the meat surface layer is the meat surface split skin. Using modern technology, it is possible to finish, paint and emboss split leather suitable for furniture. Of course, split leather is not as durable as top-layer leather. But tweaking their thickness can yield interesting results. Unless otherwise specified, generally finished split leather is not suitable for seat cushions.

leather labels-02

Maintenance common sense

The maintenance of leather clothing should pay attention to the following points:

  1. Avoid contamination with grease and chemical solvents to prevent discoloration;
  2. Regular waxing or jacket oil maintenance;
  3. Do not fold the leather jacket at ordinary times. It is suitable to hang on hangers;
  4. Do not expose to the sun;
  5. Do not put sanitary balls when storing, so as to avoid chemical reactions and harden the cortex.

In conclusion

Leather fabrics have many types due to technology. Different kinds are suitable for different types of clothing, shoes & hats, and household furniture items. We are a supplier specializing in the production of leather fabrics, leather labels, leather patches, and leather bags. If you have any custom needs, please contact us. Hope this article is helpful to you.

What is leather label?

Leather labels are mainly sewn on the fabric or jeans’ waist for clothing, whose materials include genuine(real) leather, faux leather, Suede leather, etc. We supply high-quality custom leather labels&leather patches by printing, embossing, or gold/silver hot stamping. It can replace the traditional cloth label. Your logo, text, picture, patterns can put on the leather material by various processes.

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