Your guide to leather and the different types of leather

Do you want to learn more about leather? Then you have come to the right place. In this blog we will review the different types of leather and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of leather. We will review Faux, Top, Full Grain and Genuine Leather as well as Suede. Below there will be some subtypes, which will also be presented.

Why listen to us? We are a sneaker brand that has been working closely with a manufacturer in Portugal since 2020, where our sneakers come to life, and have therefore collected a lot of knowledge and expertise about leather over the years. You can use this guide to make a decision about what type of leather you want to look for, whether it is a shoe, bag, belt or other leather products such as furniture, then we can tell you whether you are getting good quality that will last a long time, or whether it is something less good leather.

1.    Faux Leather (artificial leather) - vegan

As the name “faux” translates to “fake” in French, this type of leather is not real leather. It is more of a plastic/synthetic leather.

The advantages of Faux Leather are that it has nothing to do with animals, which is why it is most often used to make vegan shoes.

The disadvantages of Faux Leather are that the quality is generally not high. It wears out faster and is less durable. In addition, the plastic used in the leather is not biodegradable, as is the case with real leather.

2.    Full Grain Leather - genuine leather

This type of leather is very popular in high-end shoes and furniture. Full Grain Leather is simply the top layer of the skin where the hair has been plucked off. This leather can be recognized by the presence of “beauty spots” or unevenness which may be mosquito bites or other things that the animal it comes from may have had.

The advantage of this type of leather is that it is hard-wearing and very durable. The leather shows history through the flaws that may occur. It gives a rustic look and adds personality to the leather product. In addition, it lasts for many years and can give a nice patina surface through the grains. However, you must care for the leather properly.

The disadvantages of Full Grain Leather are that the “charming” flaws are not to everyone’s taste. This can lead to your product not being the same every time. In some people’s eyes, this is of course also an advantage. You may also not like the heavy leather that Full Grain Leather is. It is also more demanding to maintain, as it can potentially dry out and crack if you don’t use leather grease or similar. 

At Errant, we do not use Full Grain Leather to ensure a consistent look in the shoes, so they are the same every time we produce a pair. This helps create a minimalist look.

3.    Top Grain Leather - genuine leather

Top Grain Leather is very similar to Full Grain Leather. The difference is that the top layer of the leather has been cut away, which means that the “beauty spots” and unevenness are lost. Top Grain Leather is often used in furniture, belts, shoes and bags.

The advantage is that it is very high quality which ensures that the product will last for many years. It also gives the same look consistently every time it is used to produce. Like Full Grain Leather, this type of leather can last for several generations with the right care. If you own a pair of our sneakers or other leather sneakers, you can find care from Jason Markk for them here.

The disadvantages of this leather are few, but Top Grain Leather, provides less breathability in the leather, as it is surface treated to ensure a uniform appearance. Top Grain Leather can also crack over time if not cared for properly.

Top Grain Leather is a really good material, as long as you take care of it. At Errant we use Top Grain Leather, as it ensures a stylish minimalist look. The high quality also means that we can provide a really good product - of course we encourage you to take good care of our shoes with, among other things, Jason Markk products or similar. You can find a care guide here.

4.    Genuine Leather - technically leather

Although the name may imply that it is real leather, it simply means that it is almost real leather. This means that it can be composite leather, such as small pieces of leather scraps mixed with rubber. It can also be split leather, which is the very bottom part of the hide.

An advantage of this type of leather is that products made from this material are often cheaper while looking and feeling like, for example, Top and Full Grain Leather.

The disadvantage of Genuine Leather is that it is less durable. This especially refers to composite leather, which can peel or crack over time.

5.    Suede

Suede is a very well-known type of leather. Suede is actually just the back of the leather, which has a more raw/rough surface. It helps give a really cool look that is difficult to achieve with other materials.

The advantages of suede are that it gives a unique and authentic look, while also being soft. This is also the reason why suede is often used in sports shoes. 

The downside of suede is that it is very sensitive to water and stains. It is also a bit more difficult to clean. However, there are methods and products you can use to make this easier, such as a Suede Cleaning Kit from Jason Markk.

Suede is a good choice for the person who wants a different look that stands out a little from the crowd. It is generally important to keep them in good condition and care for them if you do not want them to deteriorate quickly. It is a material that needs to be taken care of.

You have now reached the end of this blog. We hope that your understanding of leather and quality has grown just a little. At least you are now better equipped to make a decision about what kind of leather you want the next time such a decision arises.

In many cases, Top or Full Grain Leather will be best, as this gives you the best possible quality and durability.

ERRANT - FOR ANY MOMENT