Find the Best Soft Leather Variety: Identification and Types

Soft leather is widely known for its silky and smooth touch. But there is a huge variety of soft leather that confuses you. Do you ever wonder why some leather is softer than others or how to pick the best one for you? A good understanding of leather types can be helpful when you are buying a bag, jacket or piece of furniture. You will definitely choose the best soft leather variety if you are well aware of its features.

In this article, you will learn to identify different types of soft leather. You will find the complete guide on what makes each type unique and how to identify the quality that suits your needs. Be ready to explore the softest leathers around!

What is Soft Leather Variety?

Soft leather variety refers to the different types of leather that give you a soft feel whenever you touch them. These varieties include leather such as suede, nubuck and top full grain leather. Each type has its own texture. They are in demand for their smoothness, flexibility and comfort.

The term soft leather is mostly used for flexible and silky leather. This kind of leather mostly  made from lamb, deer and calf skins.  They don't need any hard processes to be soft because they are naturally soft. Eel, Napa, Nubuck and Suede are famous for soft leather variety.

Soft Leather Characteristics: A Quick Detail

What affects the soft leather variety?

There are two main factors that affect the soft leather variety:

1. Tanning Process

There are four main ways to tan soft leather. Chrome tanning and vegetable tanning are mostly used for tanning. Chrome tanning is considered best for making the finest soft leather variety. Because chromium ions are used in chrome processing for chemical reactions.

When animal's skin goes through the process of tanning, it is cut into many thin pieces. Some pieces are placed under sand to make them more soft or some pieces go straight to the tanning process. You get nubuck if you sand the top layer of the hide on the hardest part and if you sand the lower layer of the hide you get suede. The upper pattern of each leather is cut and lifted during the tanning process to give it a soft look.

Many people use different oils and creams to make the it soft and silky.  

2. The Animal's Hide

This process depends on two factors:

• Type of Animal

Every animal has a different skin structure. Some have more softness than others and some animals have hard skins. For instance, deerskin is famous for its fleecy fur and widely used in making soft leather gloves.

• Age of Animal

Animal age matters a lot in the softness of leather. Collagen is a protein that makes any skin smooth and provides elasticity. Animals that are less in age, for example, calves and lambs have more collagen than older ones. 

Identification of Types of Soft Leather

There are a few types of genuine leather:

1. Deerskin

The deerskin is a famous type of soft leather. This type of soft leather hide has a different physical structure. The deerskin leather has elongated interwoven fibers that have fewer gaps in between. This type of leather includes features:

• Air can easily cross these layers which makes the leather feel soft and light.
• It is much softer than cowhide.
• It is famous for being highly resistant to cold and water.
• This leather is warmer in cold weather and cooler in hot weather which meansit can be worn at any temperature.
• It is very strong and doesn't easily break.
• It is smother than cowhide but more durable. 

2. Lambskin

Lambskin leather is also famous as sheepskin leather. It is also one of the most popular leathers. It is made up of lambskin and has a high collagen count. It goes through a heavy manufacturing process and also requires hand manipulation. This type of leather includes features:

• This leather is thin and light in weight.
• It has a classic silky feel and it is easy to wear.
• It is best used for luxurious leather goods.
• This soft leather is best for the coldest weather.
• This type is more expensive than the other one because of lambskin.
• It is mostly uher will stretch over time and cannot stand up as well under pressure as cow leather.
• The lambskin leather type is the nicest among others because it comes from an animal that is too young.
• It feels very smooth and velvety because its layers are thin and airy.

3. Nubuck

It was produced in the 19th century. This type of leather hide is also famous for its genuine leather texture and silky soft touch. The quality of this leather type is up to the mark. This leather kind  is mostly used for bags and different home accessories. This type of leather includes features:

• It is used for a large variety of leather products especially the soft leather variety.
• This leather type combined characteristics of various types of soft leather.
• This leather has a fine look and feel.
• It is very reliable and durable because it made up from the upper layer of animal hide.

4. Suede

The suede is also real leather. But it is less soft and thin than nubuck leather. It is very similar to nubuck leather but has key differences in a few ways. It goes through the process of sanding, which gives it an ironic feel. It also comes from the top grain leather layer of animal skin. This type of leather includes features:

• It is commonly available.
• It is smooth, flexible and soft leather.
• It is mostly used for luxury We can also find fashion accessories such as jackets and shoes.

What is the soft leather variety used for?

Soft leather variety are heavily used in a wide range of products because of their smooth texture and comfortable feel. Common uses are:

1. We can get jackets, gloves and pants from soft leather and it provides warmth and style.
2. We can also get handbags, wallets, and belts made of soft leather for a luxurious look.
3. Soft leather is popular in making shoes and boots that have comfort and durability.
4. Sofas, chairs, and cushions are also made from soft leather which adds elegance and comfort to homes and offices.

How to Identify Quality Soft Leather

Here are a few tips to understand how to identify distinctive qualities soft leather:

1. The texture is the most important thing to consider when determining the quality of soft leather. It should feel smooth and flexible.
2. Genuine leather has a pleasant smell. The leather is not real if it contains plastic or chemicals smell.
3. There should be natural imperfections in genuine leather like small scars or wrinkles. These signs show that this is real leather.

How to Care for Soft Leather Variety

Every type of leather needs care. The soft leather variety also demands care and maintenance over time. Lambskin and deerskin leather require a little more care than cowhide leather to stay strong and look good. The reason for more care is their making and the structure of the skin. Although deerskin is more reliable, there are a few things that you can do to keep a soft leather variety natural and avoid damage.

Keep it out of sunlight

• Do not keep the soft leather under direct sunlight. Every type of leather dries out under extreme heat if it is placed for a long period.
• Keep it in a dark and cool place in a closet.

Lack of extra waterproofing

• Don't use any water treatment on soft leather because some of them are naturally water resistant.
• Just use a dry towel to wipe off the extra water if it gets too wet.

Cleaning and spotting

If your leather gets any stains:

• Cover the area with flour or baby powder for two hours if it is oily or greasy. Then wash it with warm water and dry it. For other types of spots, just rinse with water.
• If the stain is still there, just use a mild soap.
• You need to be more careful if it has scratches.

Conditioner for leather

You can use different conditioners for leather cleaning.

• Always choose the one that is perfect for the specific type of leather.
• First, test it on the smaller portion. If it is fine, you can use it on the whole item, but if it gets dark, don't use it.
• Leather clothes should be hung on cushioned hangers.
• Don't keep it in plastic bags.

How good is soft leather variety?

Soft leather variety is a nice choice in clothing and other accessories as well. Because it gives:

1. You have stylish and bold looks.
2. It is durable and reliable.
3. It gives you a soft and silky touch.
4. It is light in weight so that you can carry it easily.
5. Some leathers are expensive, but you can easily find a reasonable variety of them.
6. They are best for cold weather.

Disadvantages of Soft Leather Variety

There are some disadvantages to the soft leather variety. Some are listed below:

1. They (deerskin and lambskin) are less strong than cow leather because they have more chance to break easily.
2. Cowhide is a better option for wearing because it is more durable.
3. Deerskin and especially lambskin need extra care to be handled during processing because it has a higher chance of damage.
4. This type of leather is mostly used in decorative items and expensive clothing, so it is costly to buy. 

Conclusion

The soft leather variety is perfect for light clothing and gives you extraordinary looks. Soft leather accessories transform ordinary life into luxury. There are different types of soft leather; some are expensive and some are economical but it depends on your taste that suits you best. Soft leather gives you the perfect look, but it is less durable than cowhide. It is also more expensive than other leather varieties. Just keep in mind the shared tips when you are selecting the soft leather.

Faqs

Which animal has the softest leather?

Lambskin is one of the best kinds of leather because it comes from a younger animal that is not fully grown. It has a light and airy structure that gives it a smooth feel.

How do we observe that the soft leather is not fake?

Original leather can feel rough or smooth. It depends on the type and quality of it. If it feels too silky or seems like it is made of plastic, it is fake because the original leather is more consistent.

How soft or hard is the original leather?

Real leather is always soft and flexible and it also gives you a rough feel too. But fake leather is made up of plastic. They use different chemicals to make it hard and soft. Therefore, they are easy to recognize.

How big is a piece of soft leather?

Every leather is a different size. The leather used for cars and furniture is 0.9 to 1.2 millimeters thick. Most leather is more than 1.4 millimeters thick. Thin leather is about 0.5  to 0.9 millimeters thick.

What can you do with soft leather?

You can make many things from it. They are bendable and do not hold their shape well. Therefore, they are used for clothing and furniture.