What is the difference between Full top Grain Leather,Top Grain Leather,Split Grain Leather and Bicast Leather?
Leathers selected for the furniture industry are sliced to a uniform thickness on precision machines. This splitting process separates the Top Grain ( Top 3/64 inch ) of the hides from the Split Grain. The top layer or Top Grain is the strongest part of the hide. It contains the tightest fiber structure and is considered the most durable part of the hide. Top Grain simply means, top layer, which can also mean the leather was overly scarred (too many imperfections) requiring the entire surface of the hide to be sanded to remove these imperfections. This process alters the natural surface grain of the hide and closes the hair cells which hinders the breathe ability of the leather. Furthermore, since the natural graining of the leather is removed it requires a new pattern (graining) be stamped or pressed back onto the leather using a heat embossing process. This procedure results in a less natural appearance and a rougher hand/feel. After arrival at the tannery, hides go through a selecti
