NATURAL LEATHER (ANILINE) LESS THAN 3% OF ALL HIDES, TOP GRAIN, UNALTERED FULL GRAIN, RECEIVES COLOR SOLELY FROM ANILINE DYES, WILL SHOW SOME NATURAL MARKINGS, SCARS, & COLOR VARIATIONS, THICKEST HIDES, MOST COSTLY. OFFERS LITTLE RESISTANCE TO FADING OR STAINING DUE TO UNPROTECTED STATE NUBUCK LEATHER UNPROTECTED AND BUFFED, TOP LAYER BRUSHED TO REVEAL SUEDE EFFECT. SOFT LEATHER WITH VELVETY FEEL. TOP GRAIN, LEAST DURABLE, OFFERS LITTLE RESISTANCE TO FADING OR STAINING DUE TO UNPROTECTED STATE. SOME ARE SCOTCH GUARDED DURING THE DYING PROCESS TO ADD DURABILITY. WILL DEVELOP PATINA OVER TIME- LIKE A WELL LOVED LEATHER JACKET. PROTECTED LEATHER (Semi-Aniline) TOP GRAIN, NATURAL HIDE WITH CLEAR COAT ADDED FOR RESISTANCE TO STAINING AND TO COVER SOME NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS, SUCH AS SHADING & NATURAL MARKS. CORRECTED LEATHER (Pigmented) COME FROM RANGE CATTLE WITH MANY IMPERFECTIONS, WHICH ARE SANDED DOWN AND THEN EMBOSSED WITH MONOCHROMATIC GRAIN PATTERN, WILL NEVER SEE NATURAL MARKINGS, MOST DURABLE, MOST READILY AVAILABLE, LEAST EXPENSIVE COMMONLY USED TERMS TOP GRAIN: THE OUTERMOST THICKNESS OF A HIDE, WHERE FIBERS ARE DENSELY PACKED AND INTERWOVEN. THIS SOFT SUPPLE LAYER IS THE MOST DURABLE PART OF THE HIDE. IT IS SOMETIMES BUFFED OR SANDED TO SMOOTH OUT NATURAL MARKINGS. FULL GRAIN: TOP GRAIN LEATHER IN ITS NATURAL STATE, WITH THE GRAIN AND MARKINGS LEFT INTACT. ONLY THE FINEST HIDES ARE CHOSEN FOR THIS GRADE. LEATHER SPLITS: LEATHER MAY BE CUT TWICE, PRODUCING THE “TOP GRAIN CUT” AND TWO SECONDARY LAYERS OF THE HIDE. THESE SECONDARY CUTS ARE REFERRED TO AS “SPLITS.” SPLITS ARE SOMETIMES USED ON THE SIDES AND BACK OF FURNITURE TO KEEP THE COST DOWN. TANNING: A PROCESS USING CHROMIUM SALTS TO PRESERVE HIDES AND PREPARE THEM FOR DYE ABSORBTION. ANILINE: A COLORLESS CHEMICAL ADDED TO TRANSPARENT DYES THAT ENABLE THEM TO FULLY PENETRATE THE THICKNESS OF A HIDE. PIGMENT: AN OPAQUE COLORING AGENT. ANILINE DYES: A PROCESS BY WHICH TRANSPARENT, ORGANIC DYES ARE USED TO COLOR HIDES. SEMI- ANILINE DYED: A PROCESS COMBINING ANILINE DYEING WITH THE APPLICATION AOF A PROTECTIVE COATING THAT ENHANCES COLOR UNIFORMITY AND SOIL RESISTANCE. FULL ANILINE: ANILINE DYES LEATHER WITH NO PIGMENT OR FINISH APPLIED TO HIDE IMPERFECTIONS. BUFFING: SMOOTHING OUT OR REMOVING EXCESSIVE NATURAL MARKINGS LIKE BRANDS OR SCARS. EMBOSSING: USING HEAT OR HIGH PRESSURE TO STAMP A DESIGN INTO THE LEATHER, OR RESTORE A NATURAL LOOKING GRAIN AFTER THE LEATHER HAS BEEN BUFFED. HAND: THE FEEL OR SOFTNESS OF THE LEATHER.