Hospitality Jargon Explained

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Leather

TYPE
Bonded	Bonded leather is the particle board of leathers. Scrap leather is ground up, mixed with a binding agent, usually latex or polyurethane, and “bonded” onto a fiber sheet. Those sheets are stamped with a leather grain pattern. The percent of leather vs. binding agent varies.Attractive, durable and easy to clean.
Full Grain	Made only from top-grain leather, this types of leather has not been corrected in any way, meaning its actual grain is intact. These natural hides provide optimum fiber strength, which in turn provides superior durability. The natural grain will also breathe and wear better than most leathers.
Split Grain	Split-grain leather comes from the bottom layers of the hide and is just as durable, though not as supple as top-grain. This layer is also used to produce suede.
Suede	A fabric created by buffing the lower layer, this classic leather is softer than most and feels very similar to velvet.
Top Grain	Is the leather surface that has been finished/split to remove the surface blemishes. This layer is also used to produce nubuck leather. Most often used for furniture and heavy wear situations.
HIDE	Leather is sold in full hides and measured by the square foot. Hides vary from 30 - 45 square feet
FINISHES
Aniline	Leather that is soluble dyed but without finishes to maintain the natural texture and blemishes.
Bi-Cast	Bi-cast leather is 100% split leather topped with a durable polyurethane film coating that offers a high, glossy sheen along with a regular grain pattern. It is less susceptible to staining due to the polyurethane film coating.
Corrected-Grain Leather	Corrected-grain leather has been buffed to a smooth finish, which removes undesirable blemishes. It is then stamped to apply texture and/or embossed to restore a natural looking grain pattern.
Pigmented	Also referred to as painted leather, pigmented leather is finished with a solid pigment coating that covers imperfections and produces consistent color and texture. Pigment coating increases the leather’s durability and color consistency, while adding stiffness to the hide.
Protected Finishes	Are added to the surface of the leather such as soil and stain or anti-bacterial/anti-microbial protection.
Pull-Up	Refers to a look associated with quality leather that gives the leather an antique, traditional finish. For this style, full-grain, aniline-dyed leather is waxed or oiled and then pulled, producing variations of lighter and darker areas.
Pure Aniline	Also known as full-aniline, naked-aniline or naked leather, this process has no additional coloring added. By far the softest and supplest of leathers and richest in natural color, pure aniline also has the least natural resistance to stains, so a protective treatment is strongly recommended.
Sauvage	A two-tone effect with a mottled appearance that adds depth and character to the leather.
Semi-Aniline	Also called aniline-plus or protected aniline, this is aniline-dyed top-grain leather that has been coated with matching pigment and/or other topical finishes, like a clear sealant topcoat with a slight sheen, for color consistency and added protection. Semi-anilines are sometimes considered to be the best of both worlds, offering some degree of protection while still retaining the softness and natural beauty of the leather.
Waxed	A waxed finish helps condition leather to prevent it from drying out and offers protection without detracting from the natural feel, or “hand” of the hide.