To claim "genuine" or not?

[Warhauk]

I just read an article (followed by another article doing some follow-up) that says that "genuine leather" does not mean what I thought, namely, real leather as opposed to fake. Apparently genuine leather refers to a low quality leather that is basically made in the same manner as plywood and it falls in the spectrum of full-gain>top-grain>genuine. This was a surprise to me and I have listed all of my products as genuine leather, and just went back and edited all of them to remove that. This post was for 2 reasons.

1. Just to confirm this is a correct assessment and ask if it makes leather seem cheaper when people read that description.

2. If that is a correct assessment, to hopefully warn others of this, because I have seen a few other crafters out there that claim genuine leather, when I am pretty sure they are using good quality.

[tsunkasapa]

It's nothing I ever worried about, it's just leather, period.

[mike02130]

It's either leather or it's not.

[Warhauk]

1 minute ago, mike02130 said:

It's either leather or it's not.

But if you go to walmart and get a genuine leather wallet, it is technically leather, but it is low grade, weirdly processed leather. Just like If you go to the lumber store and buy plywood, technically it is wood, but it isn't the same as an oak board. My point was, the companies that make leather up to the bare minimum of leather standards claim genuine because it is technically true. I never realized that the term genuine is not just a claim saying hey, we are technically leather, but actually is associated with a quality/type of leather and I wouldn't want my stuff associated with that same quality.

[jcuk]

Bonded leather you decide, I know what think

https://www.worldofleathers.com/leather-guide-and-info/the-difference-between-bonded-leather-vs-genuine-leather/

Hope this helps

JCUK

[Warhauk]

8 minutes ago, jcuk said:

Bonded leather you decide, I know what think

https://www.worldofleathers.com/leather-guide-and-info/the-difference-between-bonded-leather-vs-genuine-leather/

Hope this helps

JCUK

Thank you for the link. The only real concern that I have (what I make is vegtan usually) is that someone looking at my stuff will see the "genuine leather" in my description and think back to all the times they got things that said genuine leather at like walmart, etc and think "Oh, I know that trick" and pass stuff off as crap quality.

[jcuk]

3 minutes ago, Warhauk said:

Thank you for the link. The only real concern that I have (what I make is vegtan usually) is that someone looking at my stuff will see the "genuine leather" in my description and think back to all the times they got things that said genuine leather at like walmart, etc and think "Oh, I know that trick" and pass stuff off as crap quality.

Unfortunately thats something we all have to live with, there are certain countries that have tanneries producing so called veg tan that have dubious tanning methods i will not going into some of the things they use in there tanning process,  but your nose should be your guide and yes i have repaired some tack made with it and made sure i gave my hands a good wash afterwards, and the repair was done using good quality English bridle leather - kind of a crime i thought as some of the repairs were worth more than the hole item i was repairing at times. (cheap imported tack)

[chrisash]

There is no legal definition of "real leather" or "Genuine leather "so if made of leather its fine, even if made from reconstituted leather. If made from faux leather then in the UK at least both terms would be Fraudulent

[mike02130]

Hmm, a chicken McNugget is still chicken.  So they say.  I don't use the word genuine when describing my goods.  I say Italian, French or American Veg or chrome tanned leather along with the name of the tannery.  Genuine leather is the Leather McNugget of the leather world.  Sadly, no one knows the difference and now it is just a poor marketing phrase for those not in the know.   "Pass me that screwdriver."  "The pointy one or the flat one?"  So sad.

Edited January 7, 2022 by mike02130

[sbrownn]

8 hours ago, Warhauk said:

I just read an article (followed by another article doing some follow-up) that says that "genuine leather" does not mean what I thought, namely, real leather as opposed to fake. Apparently genuine leather refers to a low quality leather that is basically made in the same manner as plywood and it falls in the spectrum of full-gain>top-grain>genuine. This was a surprise to me and I have listed all of my products as genuine leather, and just went back and edited all of them to remove that. This post was for 2 reasons.

1. Just to confirm this is a correct assessment and ask if it makes leather seem cheaper when people read that description.

2. If that is a correct assessment, to hopefully warn others of this, because I have seen a few other crafters out there that claim genuine leather, when I am pretty sure they are using good quality.

My experience has been that any leather that has the word "genuine" before it is made of low quality leather or the waste from splits that has had a grain pattern embossed on it.