Several car owners and collectors are always faced with having to restore their car interior. Most consumers do not know that all leather is not the same and that certain leathers are better for automotive use. The three most popular types of leather are: protected/pigmented, aniline, and semi-aniline. Each of these are all genuine but have their own suitable application. Aniline and semi-aniline products are typically used for residential furniture. Aniline leathers are the softest and most natural leathers on the market but are not suitable for automotive use because they scratch easily and can fade in direct sunlight. Semi-aniline products will give you a little more protection than an aniline but run the risk of fading in the sun. Last but not least we have the perfect leather for automobiles - pigmented/protected. These type of leathers will feature a nice pigmented top coat giving you a scratch free surface and won't fade in the sun. There are advantages and disadvantages when selecting a pigmented leather. You lose the natural look and feel when selecting a pigmented product but it will ensure color consistency throughout the hide. Although protected leather is the first thing we suggest, there are customers that still prefer a natural looking leather which will work in a "show car" that is not driven daily. For more information about automotive leather please contact Carroll Leather.