Leather



As a material, leather is formed from the skins of animals. All sorts of different animal hides are used to make leather but in North America the primary form of leather is made from cattle. The hides are tanned so that they form a very high quality, durable fabric.

Leather itself comes in many different types classified not only by the animal from which the material is fashioned but also from the process through which it is created.

Suede

The term suede is most often applied to material that is actually a type of leather, although some people claim it may refer to other types of material as well. Suede is formed using the inner splits of a side of leather; and it is known as having a "napped finish".

So suede and leather actually refer to the same basic material, but the name is applied according to the qualities. In brief, here is what you can expect when comparing suede and leather in a couple of important categories.

Texture: Suede is much softer than leather, and therefore some may consider it more desirable. It feels soft when next to the skin and has a very fine appearance.

Durability: Because of the gentle nature of suede it is much less durable than full grain leather. For this reason, it is very hard to protect suede from damage brought about by spills, weather, and other mishaps. Leather, on the other hand, is easy to protect and also easy to clean should a mishap occur.

Price: Generally speaking, comparable items made with suede will be more expensive than those made with straight leather. The difference is due both to a finer appearance and the additional time it takes to create the gentler material.

When it comes to suede and leather, therefore, it is essentially the same material that is being referred to. The differences in additional production are what account for the different physical characteristics.