Words of Wisdom
H and….burst…transparency….words like these flow freely through our leather descriptions but what do they really mean? Following are a few terms that when used properly, can paint a more vivid visual and tactile picture of our leathers for our customers: Many of our leathers have a pull-up or burst effect when manipulated or pulled taut on an application. This quality helps enhance the dimension of the leather immediately, giving it rich character and visual appeal. It is achieved through the application of waxes and oils on the surface of a leather in the finishing stages of production. A pull-up leather will change color when pulled tight, separating the waxes and oils to showcase a contrast in highs and lows. This leather type upholsters beautifully and is stunning on a tufted frame. An example type of leather is Mont Blanc. Burst or pull-up:
hand refers to a leather with a more dense or firm body. Firmer leathers emboss well and retain the emboss even when pulled over a furniture frame. Barrington is a great example of firm hand.
Nap and Tracking:
Nap and tracking are used in describing nubuck qualities. Nubucks are top grain leathers that have been slightly buffed on the surface grain of the hide. What remains is a soft nap or texture featuring a tracking effect similar to velvet. In other words, if you run your hand across the hide, you can see the imprints or tracking your fingers make on the leather’s surface. Dauphine and Cottswald are examples of nubucks with a rich tracking effect. Full grain leathers with a natural aesthetic often have a transparent, translucent quality. This transparency is seen in the finest leathers and is a window into the leather’s true aesthetic. It’s almost as if you can see notable nuances or layers of color within the leather. We often call this depth. Examples of leathers with this characteristic are Echo, Doral and Couture Calf. – – Transparency:
Hand:
This term refers to the temper or body of a leather. A leather with a soft hand tends to be more supple and fuller in body. Brighton and Carlyle are qualities with a soft hand. A firm
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