What is so special about Italian leather?
Why Italian leather?
It is well known within the industry that Italian leather is the best of its kind. The main reason Italian leather is considered the best is because of its quality! Much more care and attention go in to making Italian leather pieces than any other leather product in the world and only the very highest quality hides are selected.
Manufacturers only use natural vegetable and plant extracts to turn hides into Italian leather. It is not mass produced and the process takes much longer than it would to produce cheaper alternatives!
If you fancy gaining some knowledge on Italian leather, or want to purchase an Italian leather product but are unsure if you should, we aim to bring you some key information about why Italian leather is the very best and why you should make that purchase, as well as some advice as to what to check before you invest!
As a ltalian leather goods company, we have experience and inside knowledge on Italian leather! If you have any specific questions or comments that we can help with regarding leather do not hesitate to ask us. We love hearing your feedback so drop us a line.
The top 5 reasons Italian leather is the very best
- Quality, quality, quality! We have said it before and we will say it again - Italian leather emphasises quality! The craftsmanship that goes into producing an Italian leather product is of the very highest standard.
- It is made to last! More so than any other leather, Italian leather is extremely robust! Able to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use, most scratches or scrapes can be simply wiped away! If hardwearing is what you are looking for, make sure you look for leather products that come with a long or lifetime guarantee.
- It is unique! Italian leather, in particular vegetable tanned leather, is unique! Do not mistake marks in the hides for imperfections - these are actually natural and give the leather an individual and antique look. No one item is the exact same!
- It is classic fashion! Italian leather is always seen in the most prestigious fashion catwalks. It is a material that oozes sophistication and style and has, and will continue to be, an important front runner material in fashion.
- It is easy to maintain! Are you fed up of constantly cleaning your handbags? With Italian leather you do not have to! Italian leather should age beautifully gaining unique looks. You can clean the leather if you prefer, but it is by no means necessary!
There are many types of leather available; patent, full grain, vegetable tanned and chrome is to name a few! It can all be a bit overwhelming when looking to buy a leather product when you are unsure of what each of them means. Whilst Italian leather is the very best leather, there are sub categories to it to! Some types of Italian leather are better than others, and here we aim to let you know which ones these are...
Vegetable tanned leather is leather that has not been chemically dyed. It uses natural ways of colouring the leather such as tree bark, tannin or other natural sources. Vegetable tanned leather is specifically good for those who suffer with a chrome allergy (this is actually very common!) It takes a lot longer to produce than chrome tanning, but is actually of better quality. It's stronger, will last longer and is more water resistant to its equivalent.
Full grain leather (can be chrome or vegetable tanned) is the thick top section of the hide. This leather has not been sanded or corrected to remove natural marks in the leather. It is also incredibly hardwearing, being the most robust type of Italian leather available.
Top grain leather (can be chrome or vegetable tanned) is the second highest quality of leather. Depending on your preference, this type of leather may suit you better as it is suppler because it is thinner. It is also more resistant to stains than full grain leather and is usually less expensive. This type of leather is often used for wallets and purses.
Before you buy...
If you have been convinced that Italian leather is the best and want to make a purchase, you should make sure you have read this section before you buy!
As Italian leather is the very best, it is not uncommon that people can sell faux leather or bad quality leather pretending it is of higher quality than it actually is! We have some key tips to help you avoid this issue.
One piece of advice before we get started - check for a certificate tag! It is one of the easiest ways to check if your desired leather product is of good quality.
Price!
Try not to opt for cheap alternatives. The price is a very good indicator of the leather quality. Price doesn't necessarily mean brands, look for smaller or unknown leather companies; the price will be expensive, but no way near as expensive as high end designer products! Do not purchase a seemingly good leather item at a very low price; this is most definitely faux or bad quality leather. Whilst a good leather product may cost you money, in the end it will save you some as it will last ten times longer than an equivalent!Guarantee!
Does the leather item come with a guarantee? A good leather item should have a minimum 2 year guarantee. Ask the sales representative; can they tell you about the leather? How long does it last? If they don't know the facts, do not purchase! If you purchase a leather product with a long or lifetime guarantee, you are sure to be getting value for money.Quality check!
Have a close look at the item in question. Check the stitching; is it crooked? Can you see some loose? Bad quality details usually reflect on the quality of the leather! Check for natural marks in the hide. Do not mistake these for imperfections; they are usually a good sign of quality leather! It's all in the details; if a manufacturer is going to invest in quality leather, they will make sure the fittings are up to standard. Check buckles, zips, pockets and any other details.Smell and touch!
Pick up the leather product to inspect it further. Leather has a very distinct smell; can't smell anything? It may be faux leather or leather that has been highly corrected. Similarly; look out for leather that smells rotten or of chemicals. This is a sign of bad quality Italian leather.Leather should feel relatively smooth and almost silky to the touch. If you can; pull it and bend it, make sure there is no signs that the leather is going to break, tear or stretch! Similarly the colour should not be affected when the leather is pulled. A quality leather item should feel quite heavy because of the thickness.
What good Italian leather can withstand
When you have purchased an Italian leather product, you will be amazed at some of the things it can endure without falling apart! Take a look at the videos below to see what we mean. Good Italian leather can withstand...
...Scratches and Scrapes!
Do you own an Italian leather product?
Need help on maintaining your new Italian leather product? This lens can help!
