Is there a buyer’s guide or template a Nigerian can use to identify high-quality leather in the market? The answer is yes.
Leather, scientifically known as collagen protein, is arguably the most sought-after material for making footwear, handbags, backpacks, purses, etc. in Nigeria. Although leather products are not the cheapest on the market, they are highly sought after and highly rated.
The high demand and regard that leather enjoys is a result of its quality, durability, and reliability. Leather products can last for many years with proper maintenance. I still actively use some of the leather products I bought many years ago, such as a belt I bought in 2010, they still serve their purpose.
Leather materials and products are good to own, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that all leather materials are not the same and that fakes exist. Without the proper knowledge of how to tell genuine leather from a lookalike, you can easily fall for market scams. Therefore, it is necessary to know what makes high-quality leather as a Nigerian, and that is what this buyer’s guide aims to achieve.
Are all Leather Materials the Same?
There are real leathers and look-alike materials in the market, and also, within the actual leathers, there are different types.
Below are the different types of leather we have and what sets them apart.
Full-grain Leather
First is full-grain leather, which is regarded as the highest quality leather. It usually maintains the natural pores, color, marking, and feel of the animal.
The full-grain leather is the upper layer of animal skill and is obtained by the skillful and careful separation of the upper from the lower layer by artisans.
Top-grain Leather
This type of leather is a good-quality material but is considered to be of lower quality even compared to full-grain leather.
To produce top-grain leather, skilled artisans carefully separate the lower layer of the animal skin in front of the bone after removing the upper layer known as full-grain leather.
Top-grain leather does not have natural markings, pores, etc. like full-grain leather.
Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is the result of the collection of leftover scraps, hard pressing, and gluing them together.
This is considered the lowest type of leather in terms of quality.
The scraps are passed through different processing steps and then finished with artificial coloring of the material.
One of the reasons genuine leather is the lowest quality is due to the fact that it is not directly obtained from the animal but just the leftovers collected after obtaining full-grain and top-grain leather materials.
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What Makes a High-Quality Leather to a Nigerian buyer
There are many materials on the market that are produced to look like leather, but they do not possess the quality and characteristics of leather. Therefore, it is important that you know the characteristics of leather and how to easily identify high-quality leather.
Look for Inconsistent Patterns
Since leathers are derived from animal skin, it isn’t surprising that some inconsistency would exist in the product.
A high-quality leather would possess markings from deep injuries and activities such as walking. For instance, if the leather is made from skin around the joints of an animal, you can see the patterns on the material. You will see the imperfections, and that is a good indicator of a good leather grain.
If there is no sign of inconsistent and imperfect patterns on a material, it is a sign of heavy processing and also signifies the high presence of plastics and standardization.
High-Quality Leather Feels Alive
As a product gotten directly from animals, leather normally feels alive. When you touch a genuine leather grain, you can easily feel like you are touching an animal.
Touching a leather grain is one way to determine if it is of high quality.
The feel of the inconsistent and imperfect patterns, the rough surface, etc. makes the difference.
Remember to always touch the leather grain before buying it.
High-Quality Leather Don’t Totally Lose Its Natural Smell
When leather is heavily processed or is a look-alike alternative, it will be evident in the smell. Good leathers always have a distinct smell, which is mostly pleasant. High-quality leather will have that natural smell, unlike synthetic leather which would heavily smell of chemicals and petroleum derivatives.
High-Quality Leather Would Have Even Color
The color of leather can help determine its quality. High-quality leathers have even colors. The color contrast of the color of high-quality leather is always consistent.
If you notice inconsistency in the color, it is likely a low-quality or synthetic leather.
Consider the Flexibility
Fold the leather and check if there is a tear. When you fold a piece of leather and you notice a tear, it is a sign that what you have is synthetic leather, which has been processed with plastic and other chemicals.
High-quality leather is highly flexible and would not break when folded.
Factor in the Weight
Weight can be an indicator because there is usually a difference in the weight of good leather and synthetic.
High-quality leather is usually heavier than its synthetic variant, which is not surprising considering that leather is animal skin.
So, before you buy leather, factor in the weight. If it feels too light for its quantity while bearing in mind that you are carrying animal skin, then you are likely not holding an actual leather but a lookalike.
Fire Test it if Possible
This is not a must, but if possible, heat testing the material is one of the best ways to know a high-quality leather.
Get the leather and take it closer to a heat source, but not too close to cause a burn. When synthetic and actual leather are exposed to a heat source, they will contrast, but the difference lies in what happens afterward. Actual leather will return to its previous shape and look when the temperature normalizes, but synthetic leather will remain contrasted.
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Conclusion
You can be able to identify high-quality leather when you know the types and characteristics of high-quality leather.
When buying leather, remember to consider the smell, weight, flexibility, reaction to heat, color, and feel of the leather.
For example, synthetic leather will have a strong smell of chemicals and petroleum derivatives, while the actual high-quality leather will still maintain its natural smell, indicating less presence of chemicals or processing.
High-quality leather is flexible, has inconsistent and imperfect patterns, and has an even color. High-quality leather also feels lively and heavier than its synthetic alternative. Which of these buyer’s guide are you conversant with as a Nigerian looking for high-quality leather?
Would you like to purchase upholstery fabric, leather or tarpaulin? Contact any of the Nestken Masters’ offices in Lagos or Aba. Call or send WhatsApp message: +2348039388366