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What To Look For When Shopping For Quality Leather Products
Leather products are beautiful and timeless. The best part of it is that it will last for years if it’s properly maintained.
However, not all leather materials are created equal and there are countless low-quality leathers out there that are sold for a hefty price tag. And if you don’t know much about this material, it’s easy to be lured to low-grade products.
But, fortunately, there are ways to check if a leather product is worth purchasing. Here are some things you need to look for when you shop.
Handwork
There are so many designs of leather products out there. You can get personalized western leather wallets that alone have countless stylish eye-catching designs to choose from. But before you buy a leather product, make sure to take a look at the handwork too, and see if the stitching is barely noticeable and has no loose threads. Doing this will let you know if the leather products you’re eyeing will be able to carry a certain weight and can be moved around without tearing. This will tell you if it will last long even if you use it every day.
Type of Leather
There are different types of leather. Each of them was made differently and, of course, has different qualities. But the best leathers should have that weathered sheeny look. This indicates that the leather isn’t heavily treated.
Full-grain leather is one of the types of leather that is known to be high-quality. It’s not sanded during the tanning process as it comes with nearly no defect.
Another way to tell if the type of leather used isn’t cheap is to smell it. Some manufacturers have managed to copy the texture of high-quality leathers. Yet, no one can hide its real smell.
If you’re not sure if the product you’re eyeing is top-quality, let your nose do the job and smell it. High-quality leather should neither smell plastic nor chemical.
Make sure to keep yourself from buying bonded leather. Products made with this material are often created with scrap pieces of leather. They’re usually reworked with plastics and chemicals. Because of this, they don’t age well and are not as durable as top-quality leathers.
Tanning Process
Leathers are prepared differently, and they can affect a leather product’s price, as well as their durability. Hence, it’s worth checking too.
There are two major tanning processes that manufacturers use: chrome and vegetable tanning. For the former, chromium and other harsh chemicals are used to speed up the tanning process. Because of that, they’re rampant in the market. It is also one of the reasons why they’re more affordable.
The vegetable tanning process, on the other hand, is more eco-friendly as it uses natural materials. However, unlike chrome tanning, this process takes longer. But the good thing about this is that the products made from materials that underwent this process are much thicker and stiffer. Hence, they tend to last longer.
Color
The color is yet another thing to consider. Leather products usually come in black, dark brown, light brown, and tan. These colors are versatile. They can fit nearly all outfits and even occasions while giving you an elegant and classy vibe.
But, leather products may also come in other colors. Others even have two or more different colors or have stitchings with contrasting colors. However, these colors are a bit too attention-grabbing and are hard to mix and match with other looks. So, a single-colored leather product is always your safest bet.
Style and Design
Whether or not it’s a bag, a pair of shoes, wallet, or whatnot, leather products come in various designs and styles too, and they are also one of the things you need to look for.
Make sure that the product you’re eyeing matches the occasion and look you’re going for. True enough, leather products are versatile and can fit almost every event or outfit. However, their design and style vary, thus, making some products look more formal or more casual for a certain look or occasion.
So, make sure that you consider the kind of statement you want to go for too. A briefcase leather bag, for instance, gives a more formal vibe. Hence, it’s more appropriate for suits. Meanwhile, a messenger bag looks less formal and is more appropriate for casual environments.
The market has so many leather products to offer. Yet not all of them are made of high quality. And if you don’t know much about what you need to look for a good leather product, it’s easy to be fooled by low-quality yet pricey products.
