The Difference in Buying Suede or Leather from a Suede Supplier

If you are looking for a certain type of animal skin, you are likely looking at suede or leather. When you are buying from a leather or suede supplier, you ought to not only know the difference between the two, but also the different applications for each type of skin and why.

Leather is made from the top layer of the skin, while suede is made from the inside layer. A suede supplier will remove this layer from the top layer and prepare it. When it is finished, suede has a napped finish. This is quite different from leather. Leather has a rougher texture – even hard at times, depending on the way it is made – while suede has a soft, fuzzy finish to it.

Because of this distinct difference, a suede supplier will get most of his or her business from clothing companies. Suede is often used for clothing that requires a more delicate feeling to it. For example, suede was, at one time, almost exclusively used for women’s gloves. Now, suede is used for many different articles of clothing, as well as upholstery and bags. Leather and suede are used together at times, as suede makes for a great lining for clothing made out of leather.

Because suede is softer, it is considered much less durable than leather, but a suede supplier will not be selling suede to companies that need a material for tougher applications. In that case, leather would generally be used. But leather and suede complement each other very nicely, so that the two types of skin can be used in a wide variety of applications, and even together if desired. This makes suede a very valuable asset, and why a suede supplier will be kept busy.