What is Genuine Leather? The Truth Behind the Label
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It’s very tempting to think that you are getting the best one when you see a “genuine leather” tag on an aviator jacket or leather coat. However, “genuine” is actually the most basic grade of real leather. It is an affordable and accessible kind of leather, yet most of the time it does not have the strength and character of a higher quality leather. If you want a product that will still be viable after a long time and that will actually gain a beautiful character with you, then you have to go past this very common label.
Full, grain leather is, in fact, the best option for a piece of clothing that will age as nicely as your style. This top, notch material which is commonly found in vintage shearling jackets and elegant leather shirts, is the one that comes from the animal with its natural surface intact. It is stronger and more breathable than the rest and, therefore, every time you wear it, it is going to develop its own unique patina. Buying this layer is not just buying a jacket; it is buying a companion that becomes more and more elegant with every season.
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Lucas Leather Puffer Bomber Jacket
Original price was: 300 $.220 $Current price is: 220 $.-27%
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Reeves Green Leather Puffer Vest
Original price was: 245 $.180 $Current price is: 180 $.-27%
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Reeves Black Leather Puffer Vest
Original price was: 245 $.180 $Current price is: 180 $.How Leather is Made: The Process
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COLUMBUS BROWN LEATHER BOMBER JACKET
Original price was: 300 $.250 $Current price is: 250 $.-13%
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Noah Black Leather Biker Jacket
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Lavendard Brown Leather Biker Jacket
Original price was: 300 $.250 $Current price is: 250 $.Understanding Leather Grades: From “Genuine” to Greatness
We should clear up a confusion that is common for many people: Genuine leather is still leather. It is not a synthetic or a “fake” material. But in the leather quality ranking, it is placed at the bottom for products that are supposed to be durable, like a leather jacket or leather coat.
Normally, to make a leather product termed as “genuine, ” the sturdy, natural top leather of the hide is removed by sanding. The leftover parts are the weaker, fibrous inner layers which after coating, dyeing, and embossing with an artificial grain to make a uniform appearance, are used. While this method makes the product cheap, it loses the natural strength, ventilation, resistance, and of course, the unique character of leather.
Therefore, what kind of leather would you want to buy? Without any doubt, full, grain leather is the number one for outerwear that you can pass down to your kids, and which will become more beautiful with time. Basically, it is the complete, unprocessed top layer of the hide, thus, it still has the natural markings, grain, and offers the highest durability.
On the other hand, bonded leather is at the bottom of the scale; in fact, it is a mixture of leather straps and fibers combined with polyurethane. It may have some bits of real leather but structurally it is weak and will not be of any you can trust to last you a long time. When you are buying an expensive aviator jacket or a lavish shearling jacket, you may as well…
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Mack Brown Leather Moto Racer Jacket
Original price was: 190 $.160 $Current price is: 160 $.-15%
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Men’s Blue B3 RAF Aviator Sheepskin Shearling Leather Jacket
Original price was: 200 $.170 $Current price is: 170 $.-13%
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Leather Sheepskin Shearling Jacket Mens | B3 WW2 Aviator Flying Jacket
Original price was: 400 $.350 $Current price is: 350 $.Quality of Genuine Leather
While selecting a statement piece such as a leather jacket or a typical leather coat, it is necessary to check the surface with your own eyes and also understand how your investment will be aging over time. Real leather, though real and fairly priced, is not as lasting as full, grain leather, i.e. it does not have the natural toughness and the unique feature to develop a deep, real patina. To put it simply, genuine leather is a bonded material covered with a synthetic embossed grain that gives a uniform, often smoother appearance, but this artificial surface is susceptible to cracking and deteriorates at a much faster rate.
Therefore, if you want a jacket to be with you not only for the time of a trend but also to be able to get more beautiful and more distinctive with the growing years like a rugged aviator jacket or a soft shearling jacket, then picking full, grain leather is the way to go which makes your piece the one that elegantly changes over time and becomes your personal heritage rather than a short, term buy.
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Dark Brown Leather Bomber Jacket With Shearling Collar Men
Original price was: 200 $.150 $Current price is: 150 $.-20%
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Arlo Shearling Leather Jacket
Original price was: 400 $.320 $Current price is: 320 $.-16%
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MEN’S HUNTSMAN BLACK LEATHER TRENCH COAT
Original price was: 380 $.320 $Current price is: 320 $.Does this grab attention?
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Paul Dark Brown Trucker Jacket
Original price was: 200 $.160 $Current price is: 160 $.-60%
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The Red Menace: Dwayne Johnson’s Fiery Leather Jacket
Original price was: 289 $.115 $Current price is: 115 $.-37%
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Men’s Quilted Shoulder Biker Waxed Brown Leather Jacket
Original price was: 229 $.145 $Current price is: 145 $.What is Genuine Leather used for?
Genuine leather is a great and affordable way to enter the world of real leather products. Most of its applications are leather belts, shoes, and upholstery for such items as sofas and car interiors that are used in everyday life. You will find it very often in fashion at cheap leather jackets, which also involve trendy leather coats for women and tough outerwear for men. However, it is worth mentioning that genuine leather is of better quality than synthetic faux leather but is of lower quality than bicast and bonded leather.
Although it provides the appearance and feeling of a real skin at a nice price, this cheapness is usually accompanied by a compromise naturally, there will be less of the texture, breathing, and durability feature of a leather aviator jacket or a soft leather shirt made of full, grain hides.
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Need For Speed Aaron Paul Men’s Motorcycle Faux Leather Jacket
Original price was: 250 $.200 $Current price is: 200 $.-16%
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Matthew Broderick Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Faux Leather Jacket
Original price was: 250 $.210 $Current price is: 210 $.-32%
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Trendy Rocky Brown Fur Leather Coat
Original price was: 250 $.170 $Current price is: 170 $.How to Take Care of Genuine Leather?
While real leather might not be as durable over the years as full, grain leather, with the right care, you can definitely make your leather jacket or leather coat last for a long time and still look beautiful. If you follow a proper care routine, your leather pieces will stay as attractive as when they were new for quite a few more seasons.
Regular, gentle cleaning is the main factor
Dust and dirt particles are the worst enemies of your leather garments as they, like sandpaper, get into the finish and gradually destroy it. After each use, take a soft, dry, and lint, free cloth and wrap it around your aviator jacket or leather shirt to remove dust and dirt. If you want to do a deeper cleaning, take a damp cloth and put on it a small amount of mild pH balanced soap, but never use household cleaners. Before you try any product on the whole piece, do it on a small hidden area and don’t immerse leather in any liquid.
Condition keeps leather flexible
Compared to high, quality leather, the surface of genuine leather can become dry and crack. To lower the risk of this, you should be adding good leather conditioner every 6 to 12 months to your leather pieces. This not only brings back the essential oils but also keeps the leather soft and lets the material breathe even if it is under the sun or in a climate, controlled room.
Proper storage helps to keep leather in good condition
If you want to keep your shearling jacket or leather coat in perfect condition, do not forget to store it on a padded wide hanger in a cool and dry place that is free from direct sunlight or heat. Plastic garment bags should never be used as they hold moisture; thus, it is better to use
By following these straightforward steps—gentle cleaning, consistent conditioning, and proper storage—you actively combat the material’s inherent vulnerabilities. This care ritual ensures your genuine leather pieces remain a valued and stylish part of your wardrobe for years.
A Genuine Ending
Basically, real leather remains the most genuine solution of real hide at a relatively affordable price. The product is made by gluing the different layers and finishing them with an embossed coating so as to get a standard look, thus it is a common choice for the range of products from hard, wearing leather jackets and trendy leather coats to the everyday leather items like belts and leather boots.
Though at the first glance it provides a similar look to the premium full, grain leather, it doesn’t have the same extreme toughness, breathability, and the ability to develop a rich patina with the passing of time. Those who want to make a single long, term investment in a heritage, quality outerwear such as a rugged aviator jacket or a classic shearling jacket, will find it very important to understand this difference.
By using full, grain or top, grain leather you are making sure that your leather is not just worn, but lived ingetting older beautifully with you.
