In trade naming, full-grain cowhide is always called “cowhide leather”, and split cowhide is always called “split cowhide leather”. Both may be described as genuine leather, but their structure and durability are not the same.
- Standard trade names
- Why the distinction matters
- How we handle it
Standard trade names
Full-grain cowhide is always called cowhide leather. Split cowhide is always called split cowhide leather.
Why the distinction matters
Split leather is what remains after the top layer is removed. It has no original grain, so a film or finish is normally applied to give it a pattern. It still counts as genuine leather, but its strength, breathability and flex resistance are lower than full-grain. On a part like a back-waist label that is rubbed and pulled for the life of the garment, choosing the wrong layer shows up directly in garment returns.
How we handle it
Before sampling we confirm the layer and the leather batch with you and keep a swatch card. Production is colour- and thickness-matched against that approved card. Where a client specifies split leather, we say plainly what the durability difference is and where it will and will not hold up.