What Is Suede Leather? How It Compares to Traditional Leather

Suede leather has a soft texture and comes in various colours, from light to dark. It's used in leather bags, footwear, upholstery, gloves, and other everyday products. 

But what is suede leather, exactly? This material is made from the underside of animal hides, offering a unique look and feel. Let's explore its characteristics more in-depth. 

What Is Suede Leather?

Suede leather is recognised for its soft, fuzzy texture. It results from tanning the inner surface of animal hides—typically from cows, sheep, pigs, and deer. Manufacturers produce suede by splitting the hides and rubbing the interior layer, known as the corium. The result is a material they can dye in various colours, offering versatility in fashion and furnishings.

The material's uneven surface, or "nap," consists of tightly packed fibres, contributing to the suede's delicate texture. Suede leather is less porous to water, making it durable in rainy conditions but susceptible to oil and grease stains.

Suede's origins are traced back to indigenous tribes of North America, who appreciate its comfort. Over time, due to its soft texture and variety of colours, suede became desirable for use in various products, like leather jackets, handbags, and shoes.

Characteristics of Suede Leather

Suede leather is known for certain distinctive features:

• Texture: Suede has a velvety, plush texture, making it famous for shoes, jackets, and bags. Variations like cowhide, sheepskin, and pigskin suede offer different textures and softness levels.
• Durability: While less durable than full-grain leather, suede, particularly products made from pigskin suede, can maintain strength.
• Breathability: The suede is porous, providing excellent breathability in shoes, which helps keep feet comfortable. Proper care, such as using protectants, is essential to maintaining its breathability.

How Is Suede Leather Made?

The production of suede leather involves careful selection of hides, tanning, and finishing techniques. Suede typically comes from sheepskin, though hides from deer, goats, and calves are standard. 

Manufacturers can tan suede using either vegetable tanning, which offers a more natural texture, or chrome tanning, which provides flexibility and durability. Then, they buff the leather to create the characteristic nap. They may also apply treatments like waterproofing to enhance the material's texture and durability.

Types of Suede Leather

Different types of suede leather offer varied textures, durability, and appearances.

• Split suede: Produced by splitting a hide into layers, split suede has a soft texture but needs to be more durable.
• Full-grain suede: Retaining the natural grain, full-grain suede is stronger and more vibrant, often used in high-end products.
• Nubuck vs. suede: While both have a soft nap, nubuck is sanded on the outer side of the hide, making it more durable than suede.
• Sheepskin suede: Soft and lightweight, perfect for garments.
• Pigskin suede: Tough and resilient, ideal for gloves and shoes.
• Cowhide suede: Durable and thick, often used in boots and furniture.

Stylish Ways to Use Suede Leather

People use suede in various applications, such as:

• Shoes: Suede shoes add a plush, stylish element to any wardrobe.
• Jackets: Suede jackets are a fashion staple, offering both comfort and style.
• Bags: Suede handbags provide a textured, luxurious look.
• Furniture and upholstery: Suede is a popular choice for upholstery due to its softness and aesthetic appeal.
• Decorative items: Suede is common in throw pillows and other home accessories.

Suede Leather: Benefits and Drawbacks

Understanding the pros and cons of suede leather can help you select leather items that align with your lifestyle.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Soft and luxurious feel	Prone to staining from oil and moisture
Warmth-retaining properties, ideal for cold weather	Less durable than other leathers like full-grain
Protective finishes can enhance water and scratch resistance	Easily scratched due to its delicate nap
Breathable material, providing comfort for footwear	Requires more maintenance to keep it looking fresh
Flexible and molds easily to the shape of your body	Not fully water-resistant, can be damaged by excessive moisture
Available in a variety of colors and textures	Susceptible to fading and discoloration from sun exposure

Care and Maintenance of Suede Leather

Suede requires special care to maintain its appearance and longevity. Here are some tips worth following to keep your suede items looking beautiful:

• Brushing: Use a stiff brush to remove dirt while maintaining the fabric's texture.
• Cleaning: Use a suede eraser to remove stubborn stains without damaging the leather.
• Waterproofing: Waterproofing sprays can help protect suede from water damage, though they are not foolproof.
• Storage: Store suede items in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and sharp objects.

How to Fix Scratches and Tears on Suede Leather 

To repair scratches in suede leather:

1. Start by rubbing your finger over minor scratches to buff them out.
2. For deeper scratches, apply leather conditioner, let it sit, and buff the area.
3. If that doesn't work, use a suede-safe brush to lift the fibres and cover the scratch.

For larger or deeper scratches, a leather filler kit can help. This kit fills in the gaps and provides colour-matching options.

Smaller tears in suede leather can be repaired by stitching with fine, sturdy thread. For minor tears, leather glue can bond the torn areas, and you can apply acrylic paint matching the leather's colour afterwards. Acrylic paint works well due to its flexibility, ensuring the repaired section moves with the leather.

How to Store Suede Leather 

Store leather goods in a cool, dry, dust-free environment with moderate humidity and proper airflow to prevent deterioration. High humidity can cause mould, while low humidity may dry and crack the leather. Allow suede items like shoes or boots to fully dry before storing them to prevent mould growth. A breathable fabric storage container in a well-ventilated closet with average temperature and humidity is ideal. 

How Does Suede Fabric Impact the Environment?

Sustainable sourcing and ethical practices play a significant role in minimising the environmental footprint of suede leather production. Understanding these practices allows consumers to make more eco-conscious choices.

Sustainable Sourcing

Leading manufacturers are increasingly adopting sustainable methods like vegetable tanning to reduce the harmful environmental effects traditionally associated with leather production. This eco-friendly process uses natural plant tannins, which lowers the use of toxic chemicals, benefiting both the planet and workers involved in production.

Alternatives to Traditional Suede

Synthetic suede has emerged as a popular, eco-friendly alternative. It offers a similar look and feel to genuine suede without the environmental toll of animal farming and harsh chemical treatments. Consisting of recycled or low-impact materials, synthetic suede is more affordable and a more sustainable option for consumers seeking style without sacrificing environmental responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between suede leather and traditional leather?

Suede leather differs from traditional leather in that it consists of the flesh side, unlike standard leather, which consists of the grain side. Suede has a textured appearance, while leather has a sleek, shiny exterior.

How do you clean suede products?

Do not machine-wash suede products, as they may develop water stains. The recommended methods include spot-cleaning suede, using dry-cleaning services, or washing them gently.

Is suede warmer than standard leather?

Leather retains more heat than suede. Though this can be advantageous sometimes, leather may be uncomfortable in hotter climates. Suede provides a cooler alternative.

Does suede last as long as leather?

Leather is made from the outer hide, so it's more resilient and can efficiently withstand environmental wear and tear. Suede, however, is derived from the inner hide and may be less durable than traditional leather.

Is suede leather genuine leather?

Suede is a type of genuine leather. It's made similarly to nubuck, and manufacturers sand its surface to produce a slight nap of short protein fibres. Unlike full-grain leather, suede uses split leather.