The leather industry has its own set of terms and definitions. This glossary is a short list that will help you understand some of the terminology.
- Aniline - a type of translucent dye that does not mask the grain or imperfections of the leather. Similar to the way that woodstain works.
- Full-Aniline - leather that has only been aniline dyed
- Semi-Aniline - leather that has been aniline dyed and finished with a clear topcoat. Also known as "Aniline plus."
- Bovine - meaning a member of the cow or ox family.
- Buffing - the process that scuffs or abrades the surface of the leather that masks imperfections on the leather.
- Chrome Tanning - a process of curing the leather hides with chromium salts.
- Corrected Grain - also known as "Top Grain," refers to leather that has been altered by pigments or other processes such as buffing in order to hide markings and other imperfections.
- Drum Dyeing - a process where the leather is sealed in a drum of dye and tumbled to insure that the leather is completely permeated.
- Embossed Leather - a process that presses the surface of the leather to create a pattern on the hide such as an alligator look.
- Full Grain - leather that has not been altered so that the natural grain of the leather is present.
- Hand - a term used to describe the look, feel and suppleness of leather.
- Liming - a process that uses chemicals to remove the hair from leather hides.
- Milling - a process of tumbling leather that softens leather.
- Nubuck - a type of leather that has had the top layer removed to create grain-sueded leather.
- Patina - a lustrous feature of full-aniline leathers that develops with time and wear.
- Suavage - a marbled effect achieved by using similarly hued dyes to create a contrasting or two-tone effect.
- Suede - fibrous leather made of the underside of leather hides.
- Table Run - Leather hides that have not been graded by quality. Also known as "TR."
- Top Grain - see "Corrected Grain."
