Choosing Leather
An artisanal material used since prehistoric times, leather has a refined, timeless luxury that no other material can replicate. Quality leather is a beautiful, durable material that will offer countless years of comfort & service with a long-lasting sophisticated aesthetic.
While leathers may seem similar on the surface, not all leathers are created equal! Leather can vary greatly in quality, as well as how it looks, feels and performs.
Below we’ve shared some info about the different types of leather, and how to select the right one for you and how you plan to use it.
Types of leather
Pigmented leather
So named from the layer of coloured pigment applied to the surface, pigmented leather provides a uniform appearance with no natural markings.
A protective surface coating is applied over the pigment, which gives the manufacturer greater control over the desired performance of the leather - such as resistance to scuffing or fading & UV damage.
High yielding, easy to maintain and super-robust, pigmented leather displays excellent lightfastness and really is the perfect choice for hard-wearing furniture upholstery - especially in commercial or automotive settings.
A pigmented or ‘protected’ leather is ideal for high traffic environments, where the application requires more rigorous performance specifications. A lot of leather furniture - sofas, chairs & car seats are made from this type of leather.
Probably one of the most extreme examples of a pigmentation application would be your leather car seats. Designed to be very hard-wearing, waterproof, UV-resistant - the heavy application of the pigment topcoat means it almost doesn’t feel like leather.
Pigmented leather provides:
Much higher lightfastness and durability than aniline & semi-aniline (more on that later)
Generally at a lower price point than other leather types
Easy to clean & maintain
However:
Not as breathable as Aniline or Semi-Aniline, so it's generally cold in winter & hot in summer
No natural characteristics such as growth marks, scars
Potential risk of surface cracking over time
Cleaning difficulty? Easy peasy :)
Pigmented leather is really quite straightforward to clean at home. There are various, freely available domestic cleaning products that can be purchased at the supermarket (some of varying quality and effectiveness).The right product, and a little bit of know-how, and your leather furniture can be kept in tip-top condition very cheaply & easily.
Aniline Leather – Perfectly imperfect
The highest quality leather - aniline leather is the most natural, soft and gracefully supple of all leather types.
Aniline leather is generally the most expensive of all leather types as only the very best rawhides can qualify for this type, which generally attract a higher cost.
The very highest quality raw hides are sourced from European cattle, being generally better protected as they are raised in small herds on farms with no barbed wire and no branding protocols. With minimal processing, aniline hides proudly display the hallmarks of genuine leather such as fat wrinkles, growth marks, healed scars, insect bites and scratches.
This leather becomes more beautiful with age, with the natural patina developing a deep character over time. Like a good piece of marble or a beautiful piece of timber, an aniline hide will change, mark and stain, softening into its rich patina with age.
“If you use a great aniline leather, you have a piece for life, something that will age gracefully and naturally.” With good quality aniline leather, if you put a finger on it, it retains the nail scratch, but over time it works itself out.”
With no protective layer or coating on the surface, aniline leathers boast superior seating comfort as they are able to breathe and absorb moisture.
“Aniline leather naturally allows the heat from the body to be absorbed into the leather because there is no pigment or polyurethane barrier as used on lesser quality leathers. This is the sign of a top quality aniline – it feels natural – you can feel it”
This type of leather can work well in selected commercial projects as long as it is embraced and cared for as any other artisanal material.
Aniline leathers feature:
Most natural, most beautiful leather with an ultra-soft, buttery feel
Most comfortable seating comfort due to breathability
Develops a patina and improves with age
However:
Much more sensitive to sunlight and requires more maintenance
Stains easily - very tough to remove
Generally the most expensive of all leather types
Cleaning difficulty - Hard :(
Although a durable surface, aniline leather will inevitably pick up bumps, scratches and stains throughout its life. Rest your coffee mug on the arm of the sofa - with some coffee or tea on the base - chances are you’ll end up with a coffee-ring that is pretty difficult to remove! Spill something - chances are you’ll get a stain as without much protection, the fluid will soak directly in and can’t easily be extracted.
Cleaning is a difficult and specialist process, that only a very few companies offer (We aren’t set up for it here at UCC). Plus, it can be very expensive!
Semi-aniline leather – Somewhere in-between
A ‘semi-aniline’ leather may sometimes be a better alternative for applications where heavy traffic, direct sunlight and regular maintenance play a part.
This leather type can be a great compromise for those who want to achieve a uniform look while still retaining the many beautiful natural characteristics of leather. Scratching will be far less obvious and colour will remain more consistent over time.
Combining durability with the soft handle of natural leather, semi-aniline leathers are especially suited to commercial areas. The light pigment coating on semi-aniline hides is similar to a light layer of foundation makeup over your skin. It helps protect, smooth and create an even colouration while still letting the skin breathe underneath. Hence why breathability and seating comfort are still good for this leather type as their performance is not hindered by the light protective layer.
Semi-Aniline leathers provide:
Higher lightfastness and durability than full-aniline (though not as high as pigmented leather)
Soft feel and generally retains appearance over time
Requires slightly less maintenance, better for high traffic areas
However:
Still reasonably difficult to clean & maintain
At the expensive end of the scale
Cleaning difficulty - Medium - Hard
Semi-aniline leather is still at the more difficult end of the scale when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Remember, the foundation make-up analogy - the ‘semi’ part of the aniline is more towards a smoother colour-correction, as opposed to a full protective treatment. This does mean that the surface is somewhat susceptible to marks, stains and damage. So if this furniture is destined for a high-traffic area, it’s worth considering if its the right investment to make.
Our recommendations
Here in beautiful New Zealand, we live in a harsh UV environment. We all know just how strong the Sun can feel, even on a day when the air temperature isn’t that high! We’ve cleaned carpets, furniture & upholstery in Australia, the UK, and here in NZ, and sun-damage here is much, much more prevalent here than anywhere else we have seen.
Aniline leather is absolutely beautiful. (Always looks and feels the best in the furniture showroom!) However we have honestly seen aniline leather sofas fade and bleach in the NZ sun in less than a year! A single Summer and you will likely see a difference in the couch! Once this UV damage starts, it’s incredibly difficult (pretty much impossible) to rectify. The leather will discolour, and will dry out - you’ll be able to feel it. Even application of a quality leather-care product will struggle to bring the leather back to its original supple lustre. From there, it’s a matter of time before the dry, faded areas start to crack & break down.
If your sofa or chairs are in more of a shady spot, or maybe in an internal media-room or similar, then aniline will last a lot longer!
With that in mind, if for example your new leather sofa is going to be situated in a sunny room, then we absolutely recommend opting for pigmented leather furniture. It is much more durable from a UV standpoint (not infallible, but definitely more protected). It also has the advantages of being more resistant to spills and stains, and easier to clean and condition.
This can also make it more attractive if the furniture is in a high-traffic home - with pets and kids and all-sorts running around! We would even maybe recommend a pigmented leather couch over a fabric couch in this case - with its durability and ease of cleaning. Though we do recommend keeping the dog off the furniture - or protecting it with a blanket or similar - as the pet's claws can cause significant scratches & damage!
Ease of care?
Cleaning aniline leather is a pretty specialist dark-art. Even here at UCC we aren’t set up to complete that type of service (we specialise in pigmented leather).
We did a survey of other leather cleaners in the area, and we found that actually none of them were willing to take on that type of service! So if you are looking for cleaning & maintenance, or revival of aniline leather furniture, it's likely that a: it will be very expensive, and b: it may not be available in your area at all!
On the other hand, maintaining pigmented leather can be completed with a very small amount of equipment, a bit of know-how, and some light elbow-grease!
It's a service we complete regularly here at UCC, however it’s completely possible for interim maintenance to be completed at home - which will greatly extend the life of the leather and keep the overall appearance fresh, clean and bright!
Final thoughts
Of course, selecting and choosing furniture and upholstery is a very personal and subjective choice! Depending on the location, application, intended use, availability, personal preference, style, price point & budget, the list goes on and on!
However we really just wanted to share our findings and observations from a professional standpoint! As we see these pieces of furniture every day - at every stage of its life. Hopefully this will help you select the right material for your own situation and tastes :)
Summary
Pigmented = Durability, high-traffic, high UV, ease of maintenance.
Aniline = Feature furniture piece, internal/shaded situation, lower traffic home, higher budget.
Thanks for reading :)
UCC 💛
