leather Types
Know your leather type so you can clean, care or refresh your leather furniture with the best leather care products. All leather must be groomed, regardless of color, tanning method and surface protection. Leather that is not groomed will dry out and lose strength and thus have a shorter life.
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ANILINE (also known as 'natural')
Aniline leather is the closest it is possible to get the "raw" natural leather.
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The surface of this leather is colored with transparent dyes.
This effect of transparency is similar to that observed by looking at a piece of colored wood where the color does not cover but enhances the tree's nodes and natural grains. In fact, the top grain remains natural and highly visible.
This effect of transparency is similar to that observed by looking at a piece of colored wood where the color does not cover but enhances the tree's nodes and natural grains. In fact, the top grain remains natural and highly visible.
The aniline leather will then have some imperfections that occur naturally, ensuring that each piece is unique. Leather of this type has only minimal coverage on the surface, so it is more sensitive to the effects of wear.
To maintain its natural beauty, it is imperative to follow a cleaning and protection routine from the beginning of use.
Advantage: natural appearance, excellent feeling, natural, top grain and minor defects, very soft and breathable
To maintain its natural beauty, it is imperative to follow a cleaning and protection routine from the beginning of use.
Advantage: natural appearance, excellent feeling, natural, top grain and minor defects, very soft and breathable
Other features: Visibility of natural defect, variations in color, expensive, hard to keep clean, poor light resistance, grain unevenness, protection is essential!
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SEMI-ANILINE
Semianilin is a leather that has been lightly treated and thus has become more resistant to influences in use.
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This type of leather is covered with a slightly pigmented finish, to make the color more uniform and hide small defects.
To protect the natural look of the leather, they are then sprayed with bright, translucent colors.
This coating provides only light protection, so the use of leather protectors is highly recommended.
Advantage: Natural finish, Pleasant feel and appearance, Improved light fastness compared to pure aniline leather, More practical than aniline leather
To protect the natural look of the leather, they are then sprayed with bright, translucent colors.
This coating provides only light protection, so the use of leather protectors is highly recommended.
Advantage: Natural finish, Pleasant feel and appearance, Improved light fastness compared to pure aniline leather, More practical than aniline leather
Disadvantages: Visibility of major natural defects, Small variations in color
Needs maintenance
Needs maintenance
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pigmented
Cover-colored leather is leather that has a somewhat stronger surface protection, typically with leather lacquer, which also provides a very practical leather that can stand for a little of each.
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This is the most widely used finishing technique, consisting of a uniform surface of a base coat of pigments and resins followed by a protective coating. They can be identified by their uniform color and uniformity.
This type of leather is ideal for frequently used items such as furniture and car seats, especially when a "child-friendly" solution is required.
FENICE leather care products provide an easy care solution for all these types of leather. Full refinishing is possible when restoration is required.
Advantage: Uniform color and coating, Good coverage of defects, Lightfast, Easy to maintain
This type of leather is ideal for frequently used items such as furniture and car seats, especially when a "child-friendly" solution is required.
FENICE leather care products provide an easy care solution for all these types of leather. Full refinishing is possible when restoration is required.
Advantage: Uniform color and coating, Good coverage of defects, Lightfast, Easy to maintain
Disadvantages: Looks less natural than aniline leather
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NUBUCK
Nubuck is leather that is specially machined to give its special "tranquility" look.
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Nubuck is actually aniline skin that has a sanded surface to give a nice, velvety surface. The look of this leather is incomparable and works well for rare use.
FENICE's exclusive, highly specialized care products are ideal for the care, protection and preservation routine required by nubuck leather throughout its life.
Advantage: Velvety appearance and touch, Very soft, warm and natural, Soft and breathable
Disadvantages: Expensive, Sensitive to stains that are difficult to remove
FENICE's exclusive, highly specialized care products are ideal for the care, protection and preservation routine required by nubuck leather throughout its life.
Advantage: Velvety appearance and touch, Very soft, warm and natural, Soft and breathable
Disadvantages: Expensive, Sensitive to stains that are difficult to remove
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PULL UP - antique leather (wax and / or oil)
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Fashions come and go, but waxy, oiled leather is here to stay!
"Pull up" was originally used to describe the effect on a kind of leather known as "Timberland" after the well-known shoe manufacturer produced this type of article famously.
This leather glows when stretched, folded or "pulled up"
Advantage: Great look, Vintage effect
Unique striped lightening when pulled or folded
Disadvantages: Requires regular maintenance
"Pull up" was originally used to describe the effect on a kind of leather known as "Timberland" after the well-known shoe manufacturer produced this type of article famously.
This leather glows when stretched, folded or "pulled up"
Advantage: Great look, Vintage effect
Unique striped lightening when pulled or folded
Disadvantages: Requires regular maintenance
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BYCAST
Better known by names like Royal Leather, PU Leather, Creta Leather and the like.
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This type of leather requires a completely different system for finishing or increasing "split" or "heavily buffed" leather that maintains uniform thickness and softness.
The technique consists of creating a finishing film on a continuous support of release paper. An adhesive is applied to the film, then the film is pressed onto the leather. The finished leather is then removed from the release paper showing a perfectly uniform surface. When bycast leather is stretched, a lighter color is visible, which disappears when not pulled. This extent is sometimes used to identify bycast leather.
Advantage: More resilient than 'split' / 'heavily buffered' leather
Disadvantages: An unnatural look and feel, Requires protection from skin oils
The technique consists of creating a finishing film on a continuous support of release paper. An adhesive is applied to the film, then the film is pressed onto the leather. The finished leather is then removed from the release paper showing a perfectly uniform surface. When bycast leather is stretched, a lighter color is visible, which disappears when not pulled. This extent is sometimes used to identify bycast leather.
Advantage: More resilient than 'split' / 'heavily buffered' leather
Disadvantages: An unnatural look and feel, Requires protection from skin oils