Top Grain leather does not quite have the same durable qualities as full-grain leather, but it does have its own perks.

Top grain leather is generally less expensive than full-grain leather alternatives but you are sacrificing some quality and some of those natural features that make full-grain leather so appealing.

Top grain leather has been altered, giving it a less natural look and impacting the strength of the material. It is, however, still much stronger than genuine leather or fake leather alternatives, like PU leather.

Full Grain Leather vs. Genuine Leather

When compared to full-grain leather, genuine leather is not as durable or strong. Genuine leather is slightly misleading in its name – whilst it is real leather, it is the lowest quality real leather you can buy. It does not offer the luxury of full grain or top grain leathers and quite often, there is a noticeable difference.

Genuine leather products are a more affordable option than full-grain leather, but won’t last long. This might mean that they’re okay for lower wear goods, but for items like bags, high-quality leathers will be a much better investment long-term.

How to Care For Full Grain Leather

Full grain leather is unusual because it is very strong but can still be damaged due to it being untreated. Here are a few tips on how you can clean your full-grain leather products without causing too much damage to their stylish appearance.

Surface-level marks should be fairly easy to clean. For most full-grain leather products, simply wipe them with a soft damp cloth. If stains are more stubborn or dried, warm water should help to remove any dirt. Your full-grain leather products will be more resistant to water damage during the cleaning process than some other leathers, although you should still be careful to not use excessive amounts of water, and often it will not be necessary.

Full grain leather will naturally have imperfections – it’s part of what makes it so appealing. We recommend against using hard brushes or abrasive cloths as this will likely damage your full-grain leather more than it will help it. Remember, full-grain leather can be prone to scratching if you aren’t careful with your maintenance.

Similarly, you shouldn’t use harsh chemicals on real leather. Instead, consider using a leather conditioner.

When the surface of your full-grain leather appears to be clean, you can apply a leather conditioner if your bag or leather product seems to be dry. 

Apply just a small amount of your leather cream or conditioner onto a lint-free cloth. Moisturize the conditioner into your full-grain leather in a gentle, circular motion. At this point, the real leather will start to absorb the conditioner and this will start to moisturize and revitalize the material.

If you’re unsure about the product you are using, you can test out a leather conditioner on a small, unseen area of your real leather bag and leave it for 24 hours to see how the material reacts. Or welcome to contact us!