Leather is a material that can be used for many purposes. The type of leather, the quality, and the thickness will determine what it's suitable for.
The first thing to know about leather is that there are four different types: vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned, semi-aniline & aniline. Vegetable-tanned leathers are made using natural materials like tree bark or leaves. Chrome tanning uses chemicals that eventually break down the skin to create durability and colorfastness. Semi-aniline has pigments added but not as much as aniline so it doesn't have quite as much color depth or richness in the result. Aniline means that dyes are applied directly to the surface of the skin to give maximum vibrancy.
Even though vegetable tanned leathers are known for being more natural, this doesn't mean that aniline leather is harmful in any way. Aniline leathers also get their raw materials from the earth like tree bark but use different processes to achieve their final quality.
The thickness of a piece of leather will determine what it's used for, for example; belts are usually thinner than seats on furniture. Measurements for a vegetable-tanned leather range around 1-3mm thick, while chrome-tanned ranges around 0.8-1 mm, and semi-aniline/aniline can be as thin as 0.5mm, which makes them good choices for finer garments or shoe uppers. You can check this at: Wholesale leather bags
Aniline Leather
Aniline leathers are known for being the most natural-looking because there aren't any pigments added to change the color. Instead, they look more like suede but with an even sheen that makes them appear moist or almost wet. Many people tend to think that aniline leather is too delicate because it doesn't have protective coating paints or other chemicals, but it's stronger than you might expect! The only thing keeping the colors from fading over time is the use of quality finishing oils at production, which also helps keep it breathable and stops cracking & flaking over time.
Vegetable-tanned leathers
Vegetable-tanned leathers are usually not treated since their appearance changes depending on you are in the world, so they have a lot of character & depth. Leather that's been vegetable tanned is usually full-grain, as opposed to top-grain or corrected leathers, which are made from the final layer of the hide. These types of hides typically require very little processing than animal skins, so their natural characteristics can be used in making handbags and other high-quality goods.
The finishing process for this type of leather depends on what you want to get out of it; since it has more oils than chrome tanned leather, some people like to use mink oil to bring back the original color. The more regular maintenance will depend on how long you want it to last; if you take good care of your vegetable tanned leather it will last several years. Since they are not dyed, the natural color of the skin is preserved and may change with age and exposure to light.
Best ways to clean
Since they're not dyed, you'll want to take good care of your vegetable tanned leather by cleaning them regularly so stains don't settle in too deep. Use a soft cloth & warm water or saddle soap if necessary; let it dry completely before applying mink oil or linseed oil which will darken and condition the skin. Chrome tanned leathers offer durability but also high resistance from wear & tear. Top grain quality chrome tanning hides have been sanded from their original thickness leaving only a thin layer on top that can be used for producing goods like furniture upholstery, shoes, handbags, and in some cases belts.
Leathers like semi-aniline & aniline are worked at production to give them depth and character; these types of leather usually require specific processes that can be costly in time & labor. These types of hides typically receive more processing than vegetable-tanned skins, so their natural characteristics are not always used in making handbags or other high-quality goods. Chromium is added during the tanning process which makes it less durable but also allows for a color range from lighter pastel colors to dark rich tones. With this type of leather, there are no protective oils so they have a higher rate of deterioration over time compared with vegetable-tanned leathers.
Chrome tanned leathers
Chrome tanned leathers are also not dyed, which brings back the original color of the skin. They can be easily cleaned with warm water & a soft cloth; try to prevent them from getting soiled as often as you can so they won't look dirty or stained. The finishing oils applied will help keep it breathable and prevent cracking & flaking over time.
Best ways to clean
Use warm water mixed with saddle soap if necessary, let it dry completely before applying mink oil or linseed oil which will darken and condition the skin. Since they're not dyed, you'll want to take good care of your vegetable tanned leather by cleaning them regularly so stains don't settle in too deep. Use a soft cloth & warm water or saddle soap if necessary; let it dry completely before applying mink oil or linseed oil which will darken and condition the skin.
