Leather Types
Selecting a new leather belt can be exhausting.
There are many designs that look similar on photos, but it is hard to tell which is the quality belt. We have prepared a summary of different leather types and what you can expect from them.
Understanding Different Leather Types
Full Grain Leather
Full grain leather is the highest quality leather where the original leather structure has been preserved. It is the strongest, can take a lot of abuse, it will not tear, and is most difficult leather to work. Full grain leather belts are not cheap.
Top Grain Leather
Top grain leather is full grain leather without the top layer. It can be used directly to make suede or nubuck belts, or covered with a vinyl layer that resembles top layer texture. This type of leather is strong, but the artificial coating will start to peel off.
Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is made of (left over) leather turned to dust and then glued and pressed together to recreate a solid piece of something that resembles natural leather. There are different types of bonded leather, some better than others based on the exact process used.
Snakeskin
Real snakeskin is beautiful but very thin, so it has to be attached to a stronger base to be made into a belt. We attach the snakeskin to top grain leather, and then wrap and sew it into top layer or bonded leather..
PU Leather
PU leather is artificial leather, which is basically fabric coated in different chemicals to make it solid, and stamped with texture.
