Leather is a natural product that has been used for centuries. It can be made from the skins of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and other animals. Leather is frequently used in fashion items such as jackets, footwear, bags, and wallets.
It’s also been used historically in furniture and car interiors. Leather also has an amazing look that is hard to replicate with man-made materials like polyurethane fabrics.
Correcting leather is a popular way to turn an expensive item you already have into something new. Here are some important things to know about how this process works and what it entails.
What Is Corrected Grain Leather?
Corrected grain leathers are all types of leather that have been changed by the process of drying and then stretching. The process begins by stretching and then drying the leather in the sun.
Next, it is stretched and then stretched again, repeating the process until the leather is incredibly thin. Finally, the leather is being stretched again to make the leather firmer.
This is an extremely inexpensive way to achieve a new look on an existing item. While there are numerous reasons to make leather of this sort, there are also a few things you should know about the process.
How Does Corrected Leather Change the Shape of an Item? Corrected leathers are one way to make a piece of leather look like another item entirely.
Full-Grain vs. Corrected-Grain Leather
Completing the process of correcting leather is often done with a machine. Full-Grain or coarse-grain leather has a look similar to cowhide.
Its pores are not perfect, which gives it a rougher appearance than the smoother, or corrected-grain leather. Fine-Grain or fine-grain leather is often referred to as calf leather.
It has an appearance similar to the look of cowhide and is also smoother. These two different types of leather are the ones that are most commonly used in garments.
They are sold at most mainstream clothing stores also. This is considered to be a common type of leather. It is very inexpensive and an economical way of purchasing goods that still look high end.
How Is Corrected Leather Made?
Corrected leather takes different forms. Aspects of the leather, like oil, pigments, and synthetic fibers, are removed during this process. Corrected leather may contain animal by-products like trichloroethylene, which is used in degreasing and antimicrobial agents.
If a high quality leather is used to make a product, the process of correcting the leather with chemicals is cheaper than buying a new pair of shoes.
The process of correcting leather is done by using a process called "breaking in" to soften out the leather. When the leather is new, it is soft and pliable, but over time it loses its flexibility, causing the material to become stiff and hardened.
The breaking in process takes place when the material is softened over time, and over time the leather is transformed into the soft and supple material that it was in its new state.
What Are The Uses Of Corrected Leather?
Corrected leathers are used as primary materials for shoes, bags, belts, and other products. Despite the name, corrected leather does not have any beneficial effects on the natural leather from which it was made.
The most common type of leather used in the US is corrected. The leather can be easily used in most clothing because it is easier to dye. Corrected leather is also cheaper than regular leather.
Many brands like Gucci and Burberry use some of its profits from selling corrected leather products to give back to the needy. For instance, Burberry has a program where it uses its profits from the sale of colored Gucci bags to buy shoes for children around the world.
Gucci makes such an impactful change that it even received an award from the United Nations.
Another example of a good cause that Gucci has implemented from corrected leather profits in its work is that it gives free leather products to homeless men in many countries.
What Are The Pros of Corrected Leather?
- The Man-Made Fabric Can Be Replaced Easily - Man-made fabric, such as polyurethane, nylon, and other synthetics, are generally cheaper, which means the process of correcting leather makes sense if you don’t want to spend a fortune on leather
- Corrected leather is so economical that many people who can’t afford luxury items can look as if they do
- Materials in vehicles such as seats and dashboards can be fitted with this type of leather
- Leather furniture is now far more cheaper to produce using the leather, while giving it a sophisticated look
What Are The Cons of Corrected Leather?
- Being cheaper than genuine leather, the product often gets a negative reputation for being poor quality and looking like it is the result of a quick fix
- Corrected leather will discolor over time
- The fabric cannot breathe
- The leather wears out much quicker than traditional leathers, meaning that it will crack easier
How Durable is Corrected Leather?
Corrected leather is more durable than raw leather in some ways because it’s undergone multiple treatments. The most common treatment is a shortcut called partial coat/seal coat.
This treatment creates a waterproof finish that covers the rawhide, thus protecting the leather from outside elements. It also prevents scratching.
Another procedure is vacuum seal, which seals in moisture to give the leather a crisp shine and remove bacteria. This treatment can last up to 1,000 hours.
Treating leather shoes involves vacuuming out moisture and other microorganisms to create a more water resistant and shinier surface.
Corrected leather is durable, but it is also susceptible to scratches, water damage, and stains. Since leather is a natural material, it will have its own color and grain, depending on where it comes from and what it was used to make.
It's no secret that natural leather is a beautiful and sturdier material than its artificial counterparts, but just because it's better doesn't mean it's more durable.
Since people can't tell the difference, they tend to overuse and abuse corrected leather products, and the result is cracked or chipped leather.
The problem is that although leather will heal to some extent, it won't always stay "corrected" and perfectly match the color and texture of the rest of the material.
How To Care For Corrected Leather
Corrected leathers are designed to be used as original leather. With that said, you should maintain the product just like any other type of leather.
Cleaning and maintaining your corrected leather product will ensure that it will last for years to come. Just like you would want to keep the leather seats in your automobile looking their best, so too will you want all of your leather goods to keep a great looking appearance.
How to Protect Your Corrected Leather
Make Sure To Wipe Down Your Leather Products Weekly.
This will keep them dust free and also give you time to inspect your leather goods to make sure there is no damage to them.
Vacuum All Seating
We’re talking about all items such as couches and vehicle seats and even bean bags. By keeping grit and sand out of the seams of your seats, you won’t have to worry about any additional wear on your leather.
Don’t Forget To Condition Your Leather
There are a multitude of leather cleaning products that you can use to treat and protect corrected leather. The best part is that these products help to minimize the damage caused by everyday incidents such as spilled drinks, foods and other disasters.
Leather Degreasers
To start, you might want to consider getting some leather degreaser. This is a powerful but gentle product that takes care of any type of sweat and moisture buildup your leather product might be experiencing.
The degreaser is also great for removing stains caused by fingerprints. It can be used on cars, bags, jackets, clothing and much more.
Leather Cleaners and Conditioners
Now that you’ve taken care of any grease problems, you’ll want to concentrate on keeping that leather extra clean. You certainly don’t have to spend a fortune on cleaners and conditioners to get great results.
These days, leather cleaners and conditioners come as a single product and are more than up to the task of making sure your leather looks its best.
Cleaners are absolutely essential for getting out the tough stains. Many also protect after the cleaning so the leather can resist future heavy staining,
Conditioners will allow the leather to stay flexible and soft. This is important due to the fact that corrected leather doesn’t breathe like other types of leather. Plus they keep your leather from drying out, which prevents cracking.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading all the way through to the end of our article about what corrected leather is, we hope you enjoyed it. By now you should have a complete understanding of what corrected leather is and is not.
Plus you now also know how to treat and protect your leather goods, as well as how to prolong the life of your leather. Take care until next time!