Buying Leather What To Know First

There’s something about leather that never goes out of style. In fact, leather hasn’t gone out of style for thousands of years! While the Roman Empire valued leather for its practical applications likes sails and furniture, the Ancient Egyptians would grow to value leather for more fashion-based purposes. In the United States, leather gained a particular brand of popularity in the 1950s. General Pattton’s aviator jacket worn during World War II and James Dean’s iconic leather jacket remain popular today. These same styles could be worn today, looking as good as they did decades ago. Designers like Claude Montana, Versace, Fendi, and Gucci — among many others — turned leather into a regular apparel statement piece in the 1980s. To this day, there are so many different ways that you can use and wear leather. Leather can still be used practically, from the saddles of horses to the lining of your car’s upholstery — and just like the Ancient Romans, we still use leather for our furniture. But there are many more ways in which people can use leather. Leather briefcases for men are popular pieces through which men can be both practical and fashionable, while still retaining a conservative appearance. Women love leather totes and even leather bracelets have gained a following among younger people. There are plenty of reasons why you would want to buy leather, and plenty of pieces and styles to choose from. But before buying leather, there are several different factors you may want to take into account.

Before Buying, Know Your Leather

There is no such thing as simple leather. Leather is created through a fine art. There are many of different animal skins that can become leather, all with different looks and qualities. Leather can also be made in many different processes, with each one producing a different feel and appearance. Then there are different styles within the pieces produced — leather briefcases for men come in all different shapes and sizes. Leather for sale is referred to in a number of different ways, so know your terminology before you shop. For example, the weight of leather is measured by ounces per square foot. Three ounce leather would have three ounces per square foot, and would be 1/8 of an inch thick. Many different types of leather produce different products, among them everything from leather belts to leather messenger bags. Although it’s unlikely that you would be buying leather on its own, you may still want to be familiar with what goes into the leather-making process. The leather-making process can be divided into three major steps: prep stages, tanning, and crusting. The more precise the process, the more expensive the leather. Of course, the kind of animal from which the leather came also influences price.

Buying Leather: What To Look Out For

Once you’ve determined what you want, you need to be aware of the fact that not all supposed leather sellers are honest. It may not be a good idea to buy leather from a street vendor, no matter how tempting the price. This is because this leather may be fake, or at least low quality for the price. Buying from a brick and mortar store or a certified online seller is a better bet — they’ll also have a wider selection of leather briefcases for men and wallets, for example. While you can get that piece from the street vendor now, it won’t be customized, and often times is marked up to a ridiculous degree. Don’t fall for any tricks; one thing many leather sellers attempt to do is convince people to buy through the “fire trick”. The fire trick involves placing what appears to be flame against leather and claiming that, as the “leather” doesn’t burn, it’s real. This trick is usually accomplished through a sleight-of-hand; ignore any sellers who do it. Ultimately, you’re better off going for a trusted, certified seller, whether you’re buying leather briefcases for men or purses for women.