What Is the Difference Between Leather & Suede?
Suede is a finish of leather, rather than a type. You might call suede "inside out" leather, because the surface is the inside of the hide, not the outside (the epidermis).
Other People Are Reading
-
Sources
-
Any type of hide can be made into suede. Cowhide is the most common source (suede upholstery is usually cowhide), but it is also well available in deerskin, pigskin, goatskin, and sheepskin.
Flesh versus Grain
-
The smooth side of a piece of leather is called its grain. The rough underside, which is exposed in suede, is called the flesh.
-
Manufacture
-
Manufacturers typically split a hide, removing the grain in one large, thin layer. They then grind down the flesh side with an emery wheel to a consistent thickness and finish (called the nap).
Nubuck
-
These books look like suede, but are actually nubuck. Nubuck resembles suede, but, it is manufactured by roughening the grain side of the leather. One common use is in work boots, giving them a suede-like texture, but the durability of a stronger leather.
Maintenance
-
Suede is more "high-maintenance" than smooth grain-side leathers. It shows stains easily; its nap wears off; and it cannot be oiled as smooth leathers can. The oil simply stains the suede and ruins the nap. An owner must purchase cleaners and conditioners specific to suede, which typically contain organic compounds, but not oils.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kristin Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Annie Mole
