7 Different Types of Leather Used in Leather Bags

A Leather Handbag is an Investment that will last a Lifetime.

With dozens of different types of leather purses to choose from, each leather has its own characteristics and personality. Understanding the difference between top-grain and full-grain leather can help you decide what is the best leather for your lifestyle.

Every leather is different, guaranteeing that there is one out there for you. If you’re always on the go, you’ll want leather that is heavy-duty, fuss-free, and durable. For those who appreciate the finer things in life, you might want buttery soft leather for a luxury experience.

We’re giving you a look at the different leathers used at Kerry Noël, along with other popular options. This guide covers everything from what is crazy horse leather to the best types of leather used for handbags.

Full-Grain for the Best Quality Leather Handbags

Full-grain is one of the materials we used for our high-quality leather bags at Kerry Noël. It’s the most durable section of the animal’s hide, giving a natural texture to the leather. The beauty of full grain leather is that it develops a patina with age, producing that beautiful finish that shows your bag is used and loved. 

We consider full-grain leather to be amongst the best type of leather, incorporating it throughout our accessories and bags at Kerry Noël.

Top Grain for Quality Leather Purses

Is top grain leather real leather?

It’s one of the most popular questions that see people asking. When we compare top grain leather vs. full-grain leather, there are similarities between the two. Top grain is considered to be a high-quality leather with similar durability to full grain.

The difference lies in their finish. Top grain leather is buffed and sanded on the top layer, giving it a pristine finish. It allows the leather to have finishes applied, making the leather thinner and more flexible for molding into a handbag.  

You’ll typically find top grain leather used by luxury brands, which is why it’s one of our go-to choices at Kerry Noël.

Pebbled style for the Best Leather Bags

Another style that we use is pebbled leather. As the name suggests, this type of leather has a unique texture that is raised, creating a pebble shape. It adds personality to genuine leather bags while also being scratch-resistant. If you want a fuss-free bag that you don’t have to baby, pebbled leather might be your perfect choice.

While this pebbled texture can appear on faux leather, it’s also common with genuine leather. The pebbled finish on genuine leather can hide flaws and marks that would otherwise make the leather undesirable. 

Pull-up Leather for Tote Bags

When it comes to creating vibrant colors, our go-to choice is pullup leather. Pull up is essentially a finishing technique, often used on top grain leather. It works by infusing hot oil or wax into the hide, sometimes using both. 

This finishing technique gives the leather a two-tone effect different from leather patina, meaning it doesn’t age the leather.

There are other popular types of leather used for handbags that you might have heard about. Here are three other types of leather for bags:

Split Grain Leather

Split grain comes from the bottom section of leather after it is split, creating what we know as suede. Split leather typically has a finish layer applied. As it comes from the lower section of the hide, this material is less durable than the top grain leather. What attracts people to split leather is its flexibility and its abrasion resistance.

Crazy Horse Types of Bags

Don’t let the name put you off. Crazy horse leather is a type of full-grain leather that ages with time, becoming more beautiful as it develops a unique personality. This type of leather is made using the entire cowhide, removing only the hair. It got the name ‘Crazy Horse Leather’ as it is traditionally used for horse saddles. 

Bison Grade of Leather

Bison leather – also known as buffalo leather – and is often compared to cow leather. What makes bison leather different is its durability, as it is around 40% stronger than cow leather. This durability comes from its pebbled texture, making it a popular choice for everything from boots to military uniforms.

These types of leather for bags have their own unique aesthetic and appearance. At Kerry Noël, our genuine leather bags are made using full-grain, top-grain, pebbled, and pullup leather. You can explore our collection of leather bags here.