Which Leather is Best for Bags?
There are plenty of different types of leather and different uses they are best suitable for. Top grain, corrected grain, genuine leather, nubuck and suede are all different splits from hides used to make different quality and textured leather, but when it comes to bags, full grain is the way to go.
Noted for its strength and durability, full grain leather is the highest quality and most desired leather; it is split from the thickest and most outer part of the hide, which gives it its resilience. It comes from just below the hair and has not been sanded, buffed or snuffed (as opposed to corrected grain) which means it displays the more natural characteristics of leather. A much-desired attribute of full grain leather is that it forms a patina over time with use.
The majority of our bags are made completely from full grain cow leather - even our canvas bags feature full grain leather finishes. However, if you're looking for a bag that holds it's shape more, and provides more structure, we've recently launched a range of buffalo leather bags.
Often when people hear the words "genuine leather" while looking at bags, they immediately think that they have a high quality, leather product in their hands. Unfortunately, this is somewhat misleading as, while it is real leather, it is actually the third grade of leather, taken from the lower, thinner layer of the hide, which, consequently, means it is not as tough as Full grain leather or Top Grain leather. The surface is then reworked to resemble a higher-grade leather.
When buying a quality leather bag, you want to be sure of your investment and with a MAHI bag, the quality of the leather is definitely something you can keep your peace of mind about.
