What is Genuine Leather?

Hide or skin tanned with its original fibrous structure more or less intact. The hair or wool may, or may not, have been removed. It is also made from a hide or skin that has been split into layers or segmented either before or after tanning.

What are the natural characteristics of leather?

Leather is a soft, supple and highly durable natural product. Each hide has unique markings, texture and a character. No two hides are alike.The best characteristic of leather is the fact that it ages beautifully. The dyes and pigments are absorbed over time and leather looks better with use.

Scars, wrinkles and folds all contribute to the natural beauty of top grain leathers and do not affect the performance or longevity of the leather. The appearance of these characteristics varies from minimal to prominent, depending on the hide selection and process

Are animals butchered for leather?

No, animals are not butchered for leather. Leather is a by-product of the meat industry.The leather industry utilises hides and skins which, if the industry did not exist to process them, would create an enormous waste disposal problem with the attendant health hazards.

What are the different kinds of leather?

Leathers are made from the skins of animals. Although there is a great variety of leather types, a leather can usually be put into one of these categories :-

Aniline leather is a high quality, top-grain leather that has no protective treatment applied.It is the most natural looking leather,with natural surface visible.It is susceptible to surface scratches and easily absorbs stains.

Semi-aniline leather is pure aniline leather that has a light surface coating of pigment or clear finish. This increases the durability of the leather and protects it from stains and spills, while still retaining its natural appearance.

Pigmented (protected) leather is a top-grain leather,coated with a clear top layer or pigment, giving it a shiny even top coat.It is durable and has maximum resistance to stains,wear and fading but a little less natural in appearance.

Finished split leather is the middle or lower section of a hide with a polymer coating applied and embossed to mimic a grain leather.

Full grain refers to leather which has not been sanded or buffed.

What is Tanning?

Tanning converts the protein of the raw hide or skin into a stable material, which will not putrefy and is suitable for a wide variety of purposes. Tanning materials form crosslinks in the collagen structure and stabilises it against the effects of acids, alkalis, heat, water and the action of micro-organisms.

What is embossed leather?

Embossing is a process that heat presses an artificial grain pattern into the leather.These leathers are still considered to be full grain leather . This process is usually applied to pigmented leathers but can also be used on aniline and semi-aniline.

What is Napa Leather?

Nappa leather is a full grain leather and comes from the skin of baby animals or lambs. The pieces are small and very soft yet tough & durable.It is one of the most expensive kinds of leather because of the way it is treated and dyeing has to be done with the utmost care. It is very supple and lightweight and wears well compared to other leathers.

What is Suede Leather?

A split which has been abraded to create a distinctive nap. The nap can vary in appearance but is not as fine as the nap on nubuck because of the looser fibre structure.

How durable is leather?

Leather is considered eternal as it ages to become stronger and better looking. If taken care, your leather jacket will last you a life time.

What are blemishes? Why are they considered the hallmark of a leather product?

The life of an animal is eventful, with scratches caused by the barbed wire, wounds and abrasions , which can also be a danger for its skin.

The traces of these experiences left on the leather are not, therefore, defects but they are in fact the proof that we are in front of a completely natural product.

What are the steps involved in manufacturing a Voganow leather garment?

Several steps go into manufacturing a leather garment. It starts with the assortment of raw hide by our team of expert assorters who pick only the best quality hide. These raw hides are then tanned at our tannery to obtain the finished leather. The finished leather is sent to the crafting unit where the skin is hand cut by highly trained cutters. Cut bundles are then passed on to expert tailors. The entire garment is hand crafted by a single craftsman, including the placement of trims and accessories. The finished garment then goes through 3 stages of stringent quality control before it is deemed fit to be sold.

What is faux leather or synthetic leather?

Synthetic or Artificial leather is marketed under many names,like "leatherette", "faux leather", "Naugahyde", and "pleather". Faux leather is made from a fabric or plastic base, which is chemically treated with wax, dye, or polyurethane for a color and texture. Ultimately, it is manmade and exists to give the look and feel of real leather at an exceptionally lower cost.It cracks and splits much easier than real leather, and becomes more uncomfortable over time.

How does Voganow manage to keep leather jackets affordable?

The entire process at VOGANOW is backward integrated. From the sourcing to dispatch, the product does not change hands. There is no middle man. Our direct to customer model and well established back end helps keep prices low.

Why should I buy a Voganow product?

VOGANOW delivers leather products of the highest quality at affordable prices. The high standards that we set are unmatched. Numerous test fits and stringent quality control go into the manufacture of each VOGANOW leather jacket to match it with international standards. The backward integration of all processes helps us deliver highly standardized products in quickest possible time.

What is the difference between a Voganow product and the rest?

You pay for genuine leather, expert craftsmanship and a quality products from VOGANOW. VOGANOW is confident that you will be happy with your purchase from us since we guaranty that every thing available on our website is made of only and only leather that too at an affordable price.

How does one maintain a leather jacket?

Leather is a substance which keeps its properties unchanged for many many years, but it must be looked with care: it must be kept far from strong heat sources, sheltered from direct sunlight, and protected from water.Please refer to our leather care page for more details.

What does it mean when its said "genuine leather?

Manufacturers of leather articles are allowed to construct a product that is traded as 'genuine leather' with non-leather materials provided the incorporation on non-leather materials does not exceed specific levels.

How to Tell the Difference Between Faux Leather and Real Leather?

  • Depending on the quality, real leather can feel coarse or smooth, or anywhere in between. Leather is also flexible and soft.But if the item in questions feels really smooth or has a similar feel to plastic, it is likely fake leather. Faux leather also tends to stretch more than real leather
  • Faux leather will have pores that are in a consistent pattern, while real leather will have inconsistently placed pores
  • Genuine leather has the smell of leather, synthetic leather has a smell of plastic