Groove Leather provides information about different types of upholstery leather. Full grain leather is defect-free while top grain leather requires additional processing to reduce imperfections. Leather is dyed close to the final color to mask scratches from normal wear. Finishing gives leather its protective coating and unique characteristics. The tanning process turns hides into supple leather using either chromium or vegetable tanning methods.

1. Groove Leather for your upholstery needs
FULL GRAIN, TOP GRAIN… WHO CARES?
Demystifying Full grain and top grain leather refers to the overall
Upholstery Leather quality of the leather. Full grain leather tends to be
relatively defect free (i.e., doesn’t need correction), and CUSTOM
is undisputedly the leather of choice for clients looking SOLUTIONS
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN for a product that ages beautifully over time.
SPECIFYING LEATHER Groove provides designers with
Here’s what you should know about when specifying Top grain leather refers to leather hides that need
the leather products they need
leather: additional processing (i.e., “buffing”) to reduce or
• Raw material (geographic region, selection) eliminate imperfections. to meet the specific needs of
• Tannages (chromium, vege, chrome-free)
their client projects.
• Dyeing Top grain leathers receive a heavier top coat of
• Embossing (texturing) pigment to smooth out the finish and to give the
• Finishing (coloring, tipping, etc.) leather protection against minor scratches and spills.
You should care about these topics because you want to: Top grain leathers are ideally suited for heavily
• Choose leather products that are suitable to trafficked areas.
their application and the client’s expectations
• Know your options when dealing with budgets WHY IS LEATHER DYED? WEB
• Educate your client Fine upholstery leather should be dyed close to the final
LEATHER PRODUCTS SOLUTIONS
finish color. Dying the crust (i.e., tanned hide) to match
RAW MATERIAL IS KEY the finished color helps to mask superficial scratches that Don’t be limited to the leather
• FULL GRAIN Care and climate affects the quality of leather hides. can occur during normal wear. Budget leathers may well
Cows raised in cooler climates, that graze on open colors in your leather box. Visit
be produced on mismatched crust colors.
• TOP GRAIN
ranges, and that have good veterinary care, have fewer grooveleather.com and use our
defects (e.g. scratches, bites). Cows raised in hotter WHY IS LEATHER EMBOSSED?
• CHROMIUM AND VEGE TANNING
climates or that roam among barb wired fences have color and grain selector to specify
Most people think embossing is simply for decorative
• REPETILIAN EMBOSSINGS more defects. purposes. Plating (embossing with a natural looking your leather
grain) is also common. If desired, plating can give a
• FLORAL EMBOSSINGS Additionally, species of cow differ in size and shape. US full- or top-grain leather a uniform look, or make a flat
cows, for example, tend to be smaller than European looking leather come alive.
• WEAVE EMBOSSINGS cows. Many South American cows are Zebus (they have
large humps). THE FINISHING PROCESS
• GEOMETRIC EMBOSSINGS
Finishing (or top coating) is the final step to giving a
Remember that “defect free” doesn’t necessarily mean leather product its unique characteristics. The purpose
• ANTIQUING
most desired and appreciated. Natural characteristics are of finishing is to modify the leather’s color and to CONTACT
often valued my leather connoisseurs. As always, beauty provide a protective surface. INFORMATION
• HAND TIPPING
is in the eye of the beholder.
Need assistance? Email us a
• FLAME PROOFING Aniline dyed leather refers to a finished product that
WHY DOES IT MATTER HOW has been fully colored without the use of pigments. description of what you’re working
LEATHER IS TANNED? Aniline dyed leather is a connoisseur’s delight. The natu-
on. Let’s work together on finding
Until a hide is tanned it’s a rawhide. To create a supple ral grain is easy to recognize, and all the hallmarks of
product, leather is either chromium or vegetable tanned. the leather are evident (e.g., fat folds, neck wrinkles, or making the best leather for
even minor scarring).
Chromium tannages, introduced in the 19th century, your project:
are the preferred method for tanning leather. A chrome Semi-aniline dyed leather refers to a lightly pigmented info@GrooveLeather.com
tannage yields a soft hand. Vegetable tanning is used protective finish that gives the leather a more uniform
when firmer leather is required. appearance, and stain and water resistance.

2. conceptualize colorize visualize
Demystifying
Leather
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