Is cowhide leather better quality than bonded leather?

Answer 1

Bonded leather is made by taking leather fibers and combining them with a binding agent or other substances. The resulting product looks like leather but is much cheaper and does not have the strength or durability that real leather has. It is considered synthetic leather.

Answer 2

Yes much better. See 'bicast leather' entry in wikipedia, link below. Bonded leather is the reconstituted (from scraps) sliced meat product of leathers but, as with reconstituted sliced ham, still has the smell and feel of the real thing and some qualities (I'm not sure how many) of a low grade leather. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonded_leather

Worse than bonded is Bicast leather. In the UK bicast leather cannot be sold as leather as it is considered a misrepresentation, the non-leather coating which comprises the surface means the product has none of the qualities of real leathers, just a lowgrade leather backing to the coating layer. Sometimes called ByCast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicast_leather

Both are still animal products (at least in part), but that doesn't make them real leather any more than any cutprice pressed mince is like a whole steak.

Salamander Bonded leather claim on their site that 'Few materials come as close to real leather in quality and in application as bonded leather.'

http://www.salamanderbl.com/english/01home/01index.htm

Leather terminology is not standardised and widely misused but the following guides seem useful

LEATHER TYPE AND FINISH GUIDES

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leather#Leather_types

From associations and museums

USA Sheep Industry Association guide to leather terminology

http://www.sheepusa.org/index.phtml?page=site/text&nav_id=46946e41f586534a6568ce8e751bbfdf

UK http://www.allaboutleather.co.uk/allabout/leather/leathertypes.php

Northamptonshire leather information (UK and historic centre for leatherwork) http://www.northamptonshireleather.com/knowledge/

This has a list of resources, including books of interest published by the Museum of Leathercraft http://www.museumofleathercraft.org/ and to the website of a professional leather marketing advisor who offers his own glossary http://www.mikeredwood.com/glossary

The museum offers its own links also http://www.museumofleathercraft.org/links.htm

The UK has another major leather museum which provides a glossary of terms used in leathercraft - the Walsall leather museum (local government maintained museum, UK) http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/leisure_and_culture/leathermuseum/leather_glossary2.htm

From shops and traders

USA from Remy - Skin Information Guide lists skins and skin finishes http://suityourself.com/remy_leathers.asp

UK http://www.leathermasteruk.com/index_leather_types.htm

Many furniture sales and manufacturers sites have information on leather used for furniture, but there are to many to include here

Hopefully some later commentator will add more USA and international sources for reliable information.

It appears that aniline and nappa should indicate quality, assuming the use in relation to a product isn't an outright lie.

Answer 3

In many ways bonded leather and durablend leather are similar and are used in the same way. The difference between the two have to do with how the leather is combined with other synthetic products.

Answer 4

The difference between bonded and genuine leather sofas is that bonded leather sofas are made from pieces of left over animal skin, where as genuine leather is made from the whole skin of an animal making it more costly.

Answer 5

Yes, cowhide leather is generally considered better quality than bonded leather. Cowhide leather is a natural material that is durable, soft, and develops a rich patina over time. Bonded leather, on the other hand, is made from scraps of leather that are bonded together with synthetic materials, resulting in a less durable and less high-quality product.

Answer 6

I want to buy a lounge suite which is sold as "fabric leather" and want to know how durable it will be.