Leather Lingo

Boost your leather smarts by checking out this list of leather terminology, straight from the experts at the Leather Apparel Association (LAA).

Aniline Finish—Soft, smooth drum-dyed skins usually coated with protein, resin, lacquer or wax.

Distressed—Buffing surface to create uneven coloration and markings for a weathered look.

Glazed Finish—Surface is polished to a high luster by pressurized glass or steel rollers.

Grain—Refers to the outer surface, markings or the patterns on the leather’s surface.

Leather—A generic term used for all kinds of tanned animal hides or skins.

Metallic—Metallic color applied during the tanning process for a lustrous appearance.

Napa—Commonly refers to the surface or top grain of any soft leather hide.

Patent—Heavily finished to give a highly lustrous, baked enamel-type appearance.
Pearlized—Spray-on finish giving a pearlized effect.

Shearling—Natural lamb pelts with the leather side often suede and worn on the outside.

Split—When a thick hide is split, the term refers to the top surface that looks like suede but is not as soft.

Suede—Leathers that are finished by buffing the underside of a hide to produce a velvet-like nap.

Unbuckle—Top grain is lightly buffed to a very fine nap that appears smoother than suede.