Aniline: A transparent dye for fine leather hides that permeates the entire hide and results in rich colour.
Aniline Leather: Leather that has been dyed only with transparent aniline dyes.
Top Grain: The uppermost layer of a hide. This is the highest quality part of a hide which Distinctive Designs uses on all its leather styles.
Full Grain: Top Grain Leather in its natural state with no correction used.
Splits: The underside or second layer of the cowhide. Used on the tightly pulled areas of upholstery where the feel is not as important (out arm and outback). This cost savings keeps leather affordable.
Tanning: A process using chromium salts to preserve hides and prepare them to absorb dyes.
Pigmenting: Colouring and coating the leather to cover imperfections and result in war and fade resistant hides.
Buffing: The mechanical process, pre-colouration, which minimizes the scars and scratches on a hide.
Corrected Grain Leather: Leather that has had an artificial grain embossed onto it after the range marks have been buffed out.
Cowhide: In upholstery terms, the entire hid of a bovine usually about 45 – 60 sq. ft..
Drum Dyeing: Also known as vat dyeing. Assures full dye penetration, hides are immersed in dye and tumbled in a steel drum.
Embossing: Permanent artificial grain patterns, added through heat and pressure to corrected grain hides..
Glazing: Also called top coating. The application of protective transparent resins, to the leather resulting in a high gloss or matte finish.
Hand: The ‘feel’ of the leather. The softness of the leather.
Kela Sauvage: A mechanical process that adds a sauvage look during the finishing stage. A relief roller creates a marbled look and enhances the finish’s character.
Patina: The luster or shine that develops on leather surfaces with time and use.
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