LEATHER FAQ
If you have a question that we haven't answered, please call or email. We are happy to help.
Q. WHY CAN'T I FIND PRICING ON YOUR WEBSITE?
We sell to the trade only and therefore respect their right to privacy on this issue. We are happy to provide pricing to qualified buyers.
If you have an upholstery shop, please Log in or Sign up here.
If you are a consumer, please use our Dealer Locator to find an upholstery shop near you.
Q. How do I order samples?
You can order up to 5 sample items for $5 plus shipping from our website. Please click here to order your samples.
Q. If I want to order a custom color is there a minimum amount?
Yes, it depends on which type of leather you are requesting. Some leathers are minimum 3 hides, others are minimum 5 hides.
The Minimum order to create a custom color is 3 hides. This represents about 165 square feet of leather. Please contact us for more details on custom color orders.
Q. How big is the average hide?
Typically our hides are 55 square feet. Check out "Measuring Hides"under "FAQ" on the main toolbar. That page also provides some helpful tips on measuring for your order.
Q. IF I'M ORDERING LEATHER FROM THE STOCK COLLECTION HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ARRIVE?
We keep all of our leathers in stock in Germany and Italy. Once your payment has been processed we need 1-2 days to pull and package, and shipping takes 2 business days for Priority, and 3-5 business days with Economy, depending on your location.
Q. HOW LONG WILL MY CUSTOM ORDER TAKE?
Once your paint or fabric sample reaches our office, it usually takes 10 days to produce a sample. From there, we need to send that sample to you for approval. Once that's done, the hides will take three to six weeks to produce; then they're ready to ship to you.
Q. HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?
Cost is determined by weight, distance, and urgency. We have the best rates available as we do a great deal of business with our overseas courier. We're sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. You can use the checkout option to calculate shipping costs, or give us a call and we'll work it out for you.
Q. CAN I ORDER A PORTION OF A HIDE?
Yes and No. Our German stock is available in ½ hides, but our Italian leather is sold in full hides only. See Measuring Hides for a diagram of a whole hide.
If you have a question that we haven't answered, please contact our team and we’ll be happy to help.
Hydes Education
Measuring Hides
Leather is sold by the square foot. Since leather is a natural material, each hide size is unique, but hide sizes range from 40 to 60 sq.ft. The fact that leather is irregularly shaped causes a waste factor in the cutting of leather. The industry has developed a standard formula for converting fabric yardage to leather square footage which factors in the waste.
1 linear yard of 54" wide fabric = 18 square feet of leather.
Caution!
We provide this information purely for reference. Hydes is not responsible for overages or underages so order with care.
Leather Glossary
Knowledge is power! Learn leather language with a look at this glossary.
Antiqued Leather that is dyed with one color over another (usually darker over lighter) so as to create rich highlights and an artificial aged appearance. Also called distressed leather.
Buffed Leather Leather from which the top surface has been removed by abrasion. Often known as suede or nubuc.
Corrected Grain Leather that has been buffed to remove blemishes, then covered with a new, artificial grain created using embossing, pigments, and other finishes.
Crocking Removing the crock, or excess coloring, that rubs off of a newly-dyed hide.
Crust Leather which has been tanned (treated to become nonperishable) but not colored or otherwise finished.
Distressed Another term for antiqued leather.
Drum Dyeing The process of coloring leather by tumbling it in a rotating drum immersed in dye. A very effective method allowing maximum dye penetration.
Embossed Leather Leather that has been "stamped" with a design or artificial texture under very high pressure. Used, for example, to create imitation alligator hide.
Finish Any enhancing effect applied to leather after it has been tanned. Examples are dyeing, embossing, buffing, antiquing, waxing, waterproofing, and so on.
Full Grain Leather Leather which has not been altered beyond hair removal. Full grain leather is the most genuine type of leather, as it retains all of the original texture and markings of the original hide.
Glazed Leather Aniline-dyed leather which has been polished to a high luster by passing through glass or steel rollers under great pressure.
Glove Leather Lambskin or other very soft leather typically used for gloves.
Grain A word used to describe the natural characteristics of an unprocessed hide, such as its pores, wrinkles, markings, and texture.
Hand A word used to describe the feel (i.e. softness or fullness) of leather, typically upholstery leather.
Nap Describes the soft, "fuzzy" effect achieved in leather by buffing or brushing.
Nappa leather Traditionally a full-grain leather made from unsplit kid-, lamb- or sheep-skin by tanning with salts of chromium or aluminium sulfate. It is noted for softness and is often used in high-end furniture and accessories. It is not recommended for automotive use.
Nappa leather Automotive A term borrowed from the original definition to describe smooth grain finished leather. Most luxury automotive companies use the term Nappa to describe their high quality pigmented bovine leather. Today, most all Nappa automotive makers use 'Follicle' embossing plates to mimic the original skin texture. Nappa for Automotive is very uniform in grain, and therefore maximum yields are accomplished when cutting.
Natural Grain A leather that displays its original grain.
Nubuc A leather whose surface has been buffed and brushed to create a soft, velvety effect. Differs from suede in that while suede is created from the flesh (inner) side of a hide, nubuc is created using the grain (outer) side, giving it added strength and durability.
Oil Tanned Leather that is tanned using oils to create a very soft, pliable finish.
Patina The luster that develops in a quality piece of leather with age and use.
Perforated Leather in which a pattern of small holes is stamped using a die.
Pigmented Leather Leather that has been coated with a flat surface color on top of or instead of the usual dye finish. Leather is usually pigmented to add durability and hide natural blemishes.
Plating The process of pressing leather under a heated plate. Often used in upholstery leather to mask imperfections.
Pull-up Describes the behavior of leather that has been treated with oils, waxes, and dyes in such a way that when the leather is pulled or stretched (i.e. on upholstery), the finish becomes lighter in the stretched areas. Considered a mark of high quality.
Semi-Aniline Aniline leather to which a matching pigment layer is added to even out the color and add protection.
Side Leather Leather made from one half, or "side", of a full hide. Typically refers to leather whose top grain (outermost layer) has been left intact.
Split Leather Leather made from the lower (inner or flesh side) layers of a hide that have been split away from the upper, or grain, layers. Split leather is more fragile than side leather or full-grain leather, and is typically used in the form of suede.
Suede Split leather that has been buffed and brushed to create a fuzzy surface feel.
Top Grain Leather whose top (outermost) layers have been left intact, in contrast to split leather.
Two-tone An effect created by applying layers of similar or contrasting dyes to a piece of leather in order to create a mottled or aged appearance. Antiqued leather is an example of two-tone leather.
Upholstery Leather Leather created from a whole hide and intended for use in furniture, automobiles, airplanes, and other upholstery applications.
Vegetable Tanning A method of tanning which utilizes organic materials such as bark and plant extracts instead of the modern chemical techniques. Vegetable tanned leather has greater body and firmness than chemically-tanned leather.
Weight A term which describes the heaviness or thickness of leather. Typically given in ounces per square foot or millimeters (thickness).
Whole Hide Refers to leather created using a full hide, as opposed to a side, and typically intended for use as upholstery leather.
Leather Care
Automotive - Protected, Top Coated, Pigmented Leather.
Spills
- Blot liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, moisten the cloth with clear, lukewarm water and gently wipe spill.
- Dry with a clean towel and allow to air dry. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spill occurred. Do not dry leather with heat dryers, hair dryers, etc. Note that depending on the type of leather the response to fluids will vary.
Leather will initially repel most liquids, but if left to stand over an extended period of time they will be absorbed. That is why it is important to mop up spills immediately. Even if the spill is absorbed, it should dissipate over time depending on the finish.
Dried Stains
- Dissolve a TINY amount of plain soap in lukewarm water.
- Moisten a soft sponge or cloth with the solution and gently wipe the stain.
- Next wipe the entire area with a damp soap free cloth.
- Then absorb any excess water (there should be almost none) with a clean towel and allow to air dry.
- Do Not Use: Any Saddle soaps, oils, abrasives, cleaners, soaps, furniture polish, varnish or ammonia water. The leather has already been permanently preserved in the tanning process.
- The only product to apply is a light conditioner. Always test in an inconspicous area for colour fastness. Use sparingly. The old adage is true: less is more!
Specialty Leather - Aniline - Wax Pull up, Oil Pull up, Distressed, Nubuck, Suede, etc.
- Spills: Blot liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, moisten the cloth with clear, lukewarm distilled water and gently wipe spill. Dry with a clean towel and allow to air dry. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spill occurred. Do not dry leather with heat dryers, hair dryers, etc. Note that depending on the type of leather the response to fluids will vary. Aniline leathers that do not have heavy protective coatings are quite susceptible to staining.
- Leather will initially repel most liquids, but if left to stand over an extended period of time they will be absorbed. That is why it is important to mop up spills immediately. Even if the spill is absorbed, it should dissipate over time depending on the finish.
- Dried Stains: Dissolve a TINY amount of plain soap in lukewarm water. Moisten a soft sponge or cloth with the solution and gently wipe the stain. Next wipe the entire area with a damp soap free cloth. Then absorb any excess water (there should be almost none) with a clean towel and allow to air dry.
- Do Not Use: Any Saddle soaps, oils, abrasives, cleaners, soaps, furniture polish, varnish or ammonia water.
- Do Not Use standard leather cleaners or conditioners. It is not intended for use on unprotected (aniline) leathers. If you are in need of cleaner or conditioner, we prefer Leather Master by Uniters S.p.A. Find their product intended for use on your leather article here.
- If you are not sure what you need, please ask us for help. info@hydesleather.com