Leather Glossary

The process of colouring leathers throughout with transparent dyes.

The light application of one colour over another, (usually a darker colour over a lighter colour) to create highlights.

Leather that’s natural surface texture has been altered.

A dyeing process in which the leather is immersed into a dye solution and tumbled in rotating drum to allow maximum dye penetration.

The process in which a design is added to leather’s surface by pressure to alter or enhance the surface resulting in a uniform imitation grain or unique patterns.

Any post tanning treatment such as dyeing, rolling, pressing, spraying, lacquering, antiquing, waxing, buffing, embossing, glazing, waterproofing and flame proofing.

The term that indicates that a leather possesses its original natural grain; leather which has not been altered.

The distinctive pore and wrinkle pattern of the hide may it be natural or embossed.

The term used to describe the softness or feel of a leather.

Skins of animals, usually cattle, sheep or water buffalo.

A generic term for all hides and skins which have been tanned and finished.

A luster that develops with time and use.

The term that describes hides with very few scars or blemishes on the hide’s surface.

Refers to the removal of grain, scars and blemishes from a hides surface

Leathers which have been aniline dyed then top coated with matching pigments to even out the colour.