Whether you're looking for a luxurious handbag, a sturdy travel bag, or a everyday tote, the leather you choose will define the look and feel of your bag. In this blog, we’ll break down the best types of leather for bags and show you some of the amazing examples produced by our customers.
1. Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather is widely considered the best type of leather available for high-quality bags. It is made from the top layer of the hide, retaining the natural texture, scars, and imperfections of the skin. This gives the leather a distinct, rich look.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: Full-grain leather is incredibly strong and resilient. It’s resistant to wear and tear and becomes more beautiful with age as it develops a unique patina.
- Appearance: Over time, full-grain leather softens and deepens in colour, which adds to its character. The natural grain of the leather is visible, making each bag one-of-a-kind.
- Maintenance: While full-grain leather is low-maintenance, it does require occasional cleaning and conditioning to prevent drying out.
Best For: Luxury bags, handbags, and totes. If you're after a bag that will last for decades and improve with age, full-grain leather is the best option.
2. Top-Grain Leather
Top-grain leather is the second-highest quality of leather, just below full-grain. It’s made by sanding off the top layer of the hide to remove imperfections. This makes it smoother and more uniform in appearance compared to full-grain leather.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: While slightly less durable than full-grain, top-grain leather is still strong and highly resistant to wear. It’s also more pliable and easier to work with.
- Appearance: Top-grain leather has a cleaner, more polished look, with fewer natural imperfections. It can also be dyed in a variety of colours.
- Maintenance: Like full-grain leather, top-grain leather benefits from regular conditioning to keep it supple and prevent cracking.
Best For: Bags that require a polished, refined look, such as briefcases, designer handbags, and professional totes.
3. Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using natural plant-based tannins, as opposed to chemical tanning methods. This eco-friendly process takes longer but results in leather that’s free from harmful chemicals.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: Vegetable-tanned leather is durable and ages beautifully, developing a deep, rich patina over time. However, it may not be as soft as chrome-tanned leather initially.
- Appearance: This leather has a natural, earthy look and feel, and because it’s tanned without chemicals, it often retains a more organic texture.
- Maintenance: Vegetable-tanned leather is more sensitive to water and sunlight. Regular conditioning and protection are necessary to preserve its quality.
Best For: Eco-conscious consumers or those seeking a natural, rustic look in their leather bags. It’s great for tote bags, wallets, and belts.
4. Chrome-Tanned Leather
Chrome-tanned leather is tanned using chromium salts, resulting in leather that is more resistant to water and stains.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: Chrome-tanned leather is less rigid than vegetable-tanned leather and is more resistant to the elements. It’s typically used in bags that need to be more pliable and versatile.
- Appearance: The leather can have a smooth or embossed, finish and is usually softer to the touch than vegetable-tanned leather. It’s also available in a wide range of colours.
- Maintenance: Chrome-tanned leather is more resistant to water damage but should still be conditioned to maintain its softness and prevent drying out.
Best For: Everyday bags, including casual totes and crossbody bags. It’s a great choice for those seeking a balance of softness and durability.
5. Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is dyed exclusively with soluble dyes, allowing the natural grain and markings of the hide to remain visible. It is one of the most luxurious and natural-looking types of leather.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: Aniline leather is soft and supple but more susceptible to stains, scratches, and fading since it lacks a protective coating. It develops a rich patina over time.
- Appearance: This leather has a rich, natural look with visible grain patterns and variations in colour. It has a soft, smooth feel and a slightly matte finish.
- Maintenance: Requires careful maintenance, including regular conditioning and protection from spills and direct sunlight to prevent discoloration and drying.
Best For: High-end luxury bags, such as premium handbags and bespoke leather goods. Ideal for those who appreciate natural beauty and don’t mind a leather that develops character with use.
6. Suede Leather
Suede Leather is created from the underside of the animal hide, resulting in a soft, velvety texture. Bags made from Suede often exude a luxurious, refined feel.
Key Characteristics:
- Durability: Suede is more delicate than other types of leather. It can be prone to scratches, stains, and water damage. However, its softness and unique texture make it highly sought after.
- Appearance: Suede has a smooth, matte finish with a slight sheen. It’s available in various colours and can be a stylish, high-fashion option for handbags.
- Maintenance: Suede requires careful handling, as it can be easily damaged by dirt or moisture. Regular brushing and cleaning are essential to maintain its look.
Best For: Fashion-forward bags, evening bags, and smaller accessories like clutches. Suede is perfect for those seeking a luxurious, on-trend look.
Our Customers
At Leather4Craft, we are proud to supply high-quality, leathers to artisans, craftspeople, small businesses and entrepreneurs who make leather goods. Here are three examples of talented artisans using our leather to make bags:
This stunning handbag, made by one of our customers, uses our Sunflower Leather Hide.
This rustic backpack, made by one of our customers, uses our Badalassi Carlo Wax.
This amazing bag, made by one of our customers, uses our Caramel Smooth Double-Butt Hide.
