GENUINE LEATHER VS. BONDED LEATHER | WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Genuine leather can also refer to split leather. Split leather means that the hide has been cut crossways with a machine that separates the top grain from the suede. Think of this process as taking apart a sandwich. The top bread is removed (top grain). The bottom bread is removed (suede). The middle section may be what is referred to as genuine.

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.

Bonded leather is the cheapest leather and sits at the bottom of the grading scale. As leather fans, it’s impossible for us to even consider bonded leather on the list of choice materials.