Dear brainfloss-ga (cool name, by the way);
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.
In the upholstery industry there are three main categories of leather:
?Aniline Dyed Leathers: Lovers of truly natural products are
particularly fond of these leathers: their unequaled, glove-soft
texture adds an extra dimension of comfort to your sofa or chair. To
create this luxurious softness and the rich gem-like color, aniline
dyed leathers are tumbled for up to 12 hours in drums containing
clear, transparent dyes. These dyes enhance the subtle variations of
each hide. All leathers get better over time, but aniline dyed
leathers develop a truly beautiful, distinctive patina which adds to
its value as a focal point in your home. Only premium hides with the
most pleasing color and texture are selected for this category, less
than 5% of all upholstery hides in the world. Many grades of leather,
from all tanneries, are aniline dyed and natural.?
?Semi-Aniline Leathers: Also referred to as "Aniline Plus", these
leathers are first dyed in the penetrating aniline dyes. Then a
topcoat is applied to even out the color of the hide surface. The
topcoat also serves to create fading- and soil-resistant pieces.
Semi-aniline leathers are available in hundreds of colors. They retain
a great amount of the softness of aniline dyed hides because the
natural top grain is left intact. A much larger proportion of the
worldwide hide supply is suitable for this class of leather and as a
result they are more moderately priced than pure aniline dyed hides.?
?Corrected Grain Leathers: Many hides are very marred by naturally
occurring imperfections or "thumbprints" such as insect bites, barbed
wire scars, scrapes and other defects. To remove these imperfections,
Corrected Grain leathers are first sanded or buffed, then usually
embossed to restore a natural-looking grain pattern. Finally,
additional color and a protective coating is applied. Some natural
softness is sacrificed in the process, but the great number of hides
that fit this category make this the most economical grade of top
grain leather furniture, and extremely resistant to stains and
fading.?
OAK PLUS FURNITURE ? LEATHER FACTS
http://www.oakplus.com/leather_facts.htm
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The term ?top grain? leather might be misleading to someone who
doesn?t know a great deal about the leather industry ? the term ?full
grain? leather actually denotes the best quality leather:
?The most confusing term used in the furniture industry is the term
"top grain'. It can be a contradiction because it often implies what
it is not. "Top grain" is the definition that is generally used when
the grain is not genuine: when the real grain is sanded away and an
imitation grain is stamped into the leather. When the genuine grain
remains, the leather is called "full grain" or " full top grain, " not
simply" top grain."
LEATHER FACTS
http://www.chilhowee.net/non-product-pages/leather_facts.htm
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Along this same line comes the industry grading of leather. ?Grade A?
for example is not indicative of the best leather, while ?Grade E? is.
Here is a well done synopsis of leather grading:
?Grade A ? These are semi-aniline dyed top grain hides that have been
lightly corrected to provide consistent color and feel from hide to
hide. A finish coat has been applied to the surface that serves as a
protection against stains and spills. A sauvage pattern applied to the
surface gives it a soft marbled appearance. These leathers are ideal
for high-traffic areas and go hand ?in-hand with small children and
pets. Care of this leather is extremely easily. Regular dusting and
vacuuming with an occasional overall cleaning every 6-12 months with
mild lanolin based hand soap is recommended.?
?Grade B ? These are uncorrected semi-aniline dyed full grain hides.
These leathers will give the best of both worlds with their
exceptionally soft hand and easy care. These also have a light finish
coat applied to protect against spills and stains. A popular choice
for the consumer who wants the softest feel possible, while still
being easy to clean and maintain. Regular dusting and vacuuming with
an occasional overall cleaning every 6-12 months with mild lanolin
based hand soap is recommended.?
?Grade C ? Uncorrected, full grain, full aniline dyed select hides.
Natural markings such as healed scars; bug bites and wrinkles are
evident. Color and appearance from hide to hide will vary. Regular
dusting and vacuuming with an occasional overall cleaning every 6-12
months with a leather conditioner is recommended.?
?Grade D ? Uncorrected, full grain, full aniline dyed select hides. A
buttery soft hand characterizes these leathers. Natural markings such
as healed scars; bug bites and wrinkles are evident. Color and
appearance from hide to hide will vary. Care should be taken to tend
to spills immediately. Regular dusting and vacuuming with an
occasional overall cleaning every 6-12 months with a leather
conditioner is recommended.?
?Grade E ? Full grain, full aniline dyed leather tanned from the
finest hides available. These leathers are thick-cut and naturally
pole dried which produces shrinking and provides a beautiful heavy
grained texture. These leathers, while being rugged and tough, provide
a silky-soft hand. Truly the best of the best. Care should be taken to
tend to spills immediately. Regular dusting and vacuuming with an
occasional overall cleaning every 6-12 months with a leather
conditioner is recommended.?
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Leather comes from a variety of sources other than cattle. Alligator,
deer, and ostrich are just a few of the more exotic animals used to
produce the product. One of the most durable leathers on earth today
is actually made in Thailand and, believe it or not, it is made from
the hide of the stingray.
STINGRAY LEATHER
http://wee.kir.jp/stingrayleather/contents/whats_sl.html
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Just a little something I ran across that isn?t particularly
meaningful, but its interesting nonetheless: Before 1850 golf balls
were made of leather and stuffed with feathers. It is said that enough
feathers went into each ball to fill a Top Hat to the brim. The new
ones, called ?feather balls?, replaced the wooden ones!
LAKE BALLS MUSEUM
http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/818/shopscr3.html
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How can you tell, just from looking, what animal a hide comes from?
Here?s a good rule of thumb:
?If it's larger than 12 square feet it's probably cow. A side of cow
runs about 25 sq. ft. (although generally smaller in split suedes,
around 15 to 18 sq. ft.), and a full upholstery hide (from really big
cows) can be over 85 sq. ft.?
ESTIMATING LEATHER
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Leather/Est_Leather.htm
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Consumers need to be attentive when buying cars that advertise leather
upholstery. Here?s one example of why:
?Mercedes may charge $1300 for "full leather" in the E-class as
opposed to "seating surface only". In the C-Class, they charged $1300
for only "partial leather". Your $45,000 car is really $46,300 if you
want real leather. Most manufacturer's offer "partial leather" or
[something] called "Leatherette", and salesman don't tell you that you
just paid $1300 for a few strips of it.?
NEW CAR BUYING TIPS
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/car3.htm
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Do you want to keep abreast of the world leather industry markets?
Here?s a good way to do it:
LEATHERNET
http://www.leathernet.com/content.cfm
LEATHERNET NEWS
http://www.leathernet.com/magnewstoc.cfm
LEATHERNET MARKETS
http://www.leathernet.com/markettoc.cfm
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The best leather in the world does not necessarily come from Italy, as
many people would suggest the misnomer ?Italian leather? often
implies. In fact, the highest quality leathers comes from the highest
quality COWS. Genetics plays an important role in this industry.
Environmental conditions including climate and food supply are also a
factor. The tanneries do make a difference but even they cannot create
a masterpiece where a superb canvas does not exist.
THE LEATHER COLLECTION
http://theleathercollection.com/Questions/faqs.html
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?The way leather feels to the touch is called its ?hand? and the
general rule is: the softer the hand, the higher the cost.?
SHOPPING TIPS
Consider the cut, fit, quality of stitching, the lining and style that
suits your lifestyle
Choose a garment priced right for you, noting that the price of
leather is greatly determined by the quality of the raw materials used
and the workmanship involved
Notice details such as water-repellent treatments, lining and
trimmings on the garment
LEATHER FACTS
Leather resists tears, punctures, heat ?and? cold. It is once of the
few fabrics that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Leather stretches and can mold to fit you, yet retains sufficient
shape to provide support.
Leather is breathable and can actually wick away moisture.
Garment leather is a by-product of farming and human food production.
In the United States skins in leather garments do not come from
animals killed just for their hides.
No endangered species are ever used for leather in the United States.
A quality object made from leather, if cared for properly, should
reasonably be expected to outlive its owner.
LEATHER APPAREL ASSOCIATION
http://www.leatherassociation.com/guide.html
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LEATHER CARE TIPS
?Leather ages gracefully and can last a lifetime with proper care
right from the start.
Always hang leather garments on wide or padded hangers to maintain their shape.
Use shoetrees in footwear and stuff empty handbags with tissue to help
retain their shape.
Never store leather goods in plastic or other non-breathable covers.
This will cause leather to become dry.
Allow wet or damp leather to air-dry naturally away from any heat
source. Leather can be treated with a conditioner to restore
flexibility while suede can be brushed with a terry towel to restore
its look.
In winter, promptly remove salt deposits from garments and footwear by
sponging with clear water, then follow with the above treatment for
wet or damp leather.
Avoid very humid and dry environments as well as direct sunlight.
Do not use waxes, silicone products or other leather preparations that
impair a garment's ability to breathe.
Wrinkles should ?hang? out. If ironing is desired, set iron on rayon
setting, use heavy brown wrapping paper as a pressing cloth on right
side of the garment and a quick hand to prevent overheating and shine.
Avoid spraying perfumes or hair sprays while wearing your garment and
do not apply pins, adhesive badges or tape.
Wearing a scarf at the neckline will help keep hair and body oil away
from the collar.
Hems may be fixed with a tiny amount of rubber cement. For best
results see a leather care professional.
All products designed to be used at home should be tested on an
inconspicuous part of the garment.?
GUIDE TO BUYING LEATHER APPAREL
http://www.leatherlollipop.com/leather_howto_buying_guide.cfm
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China is one of the leading players in the leather industry. In 1998
alone they exported 17,000 tons of leather goods or about 270 million
square meters of leather.
CHINA LEATHER
http://www.china-leather.com/english/NEW/reference/b5.htm
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?The global market size for leather chemicals is estimated between $3
billion and $3.5 billion. The specialty portion of the global market
is estimated between $500 million and $1 billion.?
CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FVP/21_259/75177266/p1/article.jhtml
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Here are some more tips and facts:
?Select a slightly larger garment than you normally wear, since the
first cleaning will shrink the tension applied during manufacturing,
as will normal aging during wear.?
?While shopping for multi-piece garments, pay extra attention to the
"match" of the pieces, not only in color, but in the texture of the
garments. These are natural skins, so no two can ever be identical;
but careful manufacturing processing, tanning & coloring, and matching
similar skins will show in a quality product.?
The cleaning process will alter the appearance somewhat, but cleaning
multiple piece outfits together lessens the likelihood of there being
a visible difference.
MARTINIZING
http://www.martinizing.com/Tips.asp?tipid=8
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?Believe it or not, White is the most difficult colour to dye, and
only the best hides will accept it. A poor quality hide dyed white
will feel quite stiff and harsh and after a few months will show signs
of cracking and it will go grey very quickly. A good quality hide will
remain supple throughout the dyeing process and the white areas will
feel no different to any other part of the garment.?
UK BIKE FORUM
http://www.ukbikeforum.com/html/buying_leather.shtml
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Need to know some leather terminology? Here you go:
LEATHER TERMINOLOGY
http://www.leatherassociation.com/FTerminology.html
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Do you need to know what the various handbag styles are called? (Yes,
they actually have industry standard names):
ACCESSORY WEB
http://www.accessoryweb.com/howtosell/handbag.html
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Do you need leather-measuring charts?
LEATHER LEGENDS
http://www.leatherlegends.com/chart.html
MEASURING YOUR HAND FOR GLOVES
http://www.glove.org/glovemeasure.htm
LINGERIE AND LEATHER MEASURING CHARTS
http://www.feminineapparel.com/lingeriechart.htm
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Did you ever wonder how leather is scientifically measured and gauged
for thickness? Easy, a leather measuring machine!
THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER - PART 10
http://www.hewit.com/sd10-leat.htm
I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
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