Archive for the ‘Leather’ Category
Owning the Perfect Leather Bag
Most of us, especially women, have a lot of things we want to carry around with us anywhere we go. We have to have our wallets, laptops and make up to name a few of the stuff we can’t live without. With the countless options you have, finding the right bag that can accommodate all your things can be difficult, especially if you have no clue on what to look for in a bag. First things first, ask yourself what look you are looking for in a bag. If you want a stylish and timeless look then a leather bag is perfect for you. You can find any kinds of leather bags from leather briefcases to leather messenger bags. You are definitely going to find one that will conform to your style while allowing you to carry your personal belongings.
Leather is produced by processing hides and skins of animals. It is goes through series of tanning processes to attain the desired design. With the various processes that the raw material is exposed to, 4 types of leather are produced: full grain, top grain, split grain and bonded leather. Full grain leathers have the best quality among all the other types of leather. It uses superior hides therefore it only requires slight process in order to eliminate small imperfections. It is the most durable and last the longest.
Top grains are next in quality. It shows little uneven areas and its exterior is manipulated by sanding or dyeing in order to get the needed look. Both the top grains and full grains are expensive. On the other hand, split grains are cheaper since they are made from the deeper layer of the hide. The least enduring leather is the bonded leather hence it is the cheapest.
With regards to the price of leathers, it can range from $40 to as much as $20,000. The big question is how would you know if what you are paying for is worth it?
First thing you need to do is find out what type of leather it is made of. Feel and smell the leather material used. High quality leather should smell like the pure hide and not from chemicals used to process it. Then inspect the details of the bags such as the stitches and the linings. If the seams and the exterior of the bag have the same color, it means that the leather is not dyed and has undergone fewer processes. Also examine if there are flaws in it like any bumps or irregularities with the stitching.
It would help if you buy the bag in a trusted store or directly from the manufacturer to ensure that you are getting the best quality and not a fake one. These days there are a lot of counterfeit bags that looks more or less the same as the genuine one. If you are not an expert on leather it may be hard for you to distinguish one from the other. So, purchasing from reliable store would eliminate your worries.