It’s helpful to know about different types of leather when choosing one for a project or buying a product. There are actually 5 types of leather, including full grain, genuine, top grain, split grain, and bonded leather. Full grain leather is by far the best in terms of quality. Unlike other grains, full grain hasn’t been separated from the top grain or split layers, and is the strongest and most dependable type of leather. The difference between full grain and genuine leather is the layers of skin from which they’re made. Full grain is made from the top layer, while genuine leather is made from the layers under the top layer and is thinner. Top grain leather is leather that's been sanded and buffed to remove imperfections, making it smoother and more uniform in texture. Split grain leather is crafted from the fibrous part of the hide once the top grain has been separated from the raw hide, and it has a rougher texture. Bonded leather is the lowest grade of leather, made up of scrap leather and polyurethane — it’s the particle board of leathers. You might be wondering why you haven’t seen any mention of Corinthian leather. Corinthian leather is not an actual type of leather at all, but rather a marketing term created by the Chrysler automobile company in 1974 to describe premium leather seat material. The goal was to set the leather apart from competitors by implying that it was rich in quality, rare, and luxurious. Corinthian leather was made in New Jersey, not in some exotic place. It’s the same leather that’s used in other cars, made of less-costly animal hides that have imperfections such as scars from barbed-wire fencing, which are then hidden by embossing the leather. So, the next time you run across something that’s “Corinthian leather,” don’t be too impressed.
