If you are a man with a heightened sense of fashion, it is likely that you like to flaunt your leather wearables and accessories on a daily basis. Leather is extremely popular in America, so much so that estimates show that an average consumer wears up to four leather products at a given point of time. Indeed, the use of leather has been extensive in fashion and home decor circles for many decades, and fashion conscious men route=nely purchase items like leather totes, leather briefcases, leather keychains and leather belts for men. If you are a belt aficionado and love sporting your favorite look of leather on a daily basis, the first thing you need to do is build a collection of the right leather belts for men.
When it comes to leather belts, many people know how to properly take care of them. Leather is known to be susceptible to the elements, and needs just the right humidity and temperature to preserve properly. For example, leather is a magnet for dirt and oils, which is why it needs periodical cleaning and handling with clean hands. On the other hand, keeping your leather items in a low humidity environment for prolonged times can lead to them becoming dry and desiccated, which changes their fibrous structure irreversibly. All this points to the fact that leather needs to be taken care of. But, do you know what to buy in the first place? Are you aware of the different forms and qualities that leather is available in? This knowledge is essential when it comes to buying new leather belts for men, and the points below can point you at the right direction.
Grading Types of Leather and Their Qualities
Buying leather belts for men involves deciding at first on the quality quotient, and purchasing the kind of leather that fits your use case scenario the best. The process of manufacturing leather involves quite a few different parameters, and according to the process used and the quality of raw materials involved, leather as the material choice for things like bags, wallets and belts can actually be graded into certain types. You have probably heard of terms like split leather, corrected grain leather or full grain leather, but to understand their differences and to be able to make the right purchasing decisions, a little more detailed knowledge is important.
To start off with, there is the least durable and cheapest option, commonly known as faux leather. This material is actually not leather at all, but a kind of polymer that tries to replicate its look and feel. If you are looking for belts that you won’t use for long durations, or would frequently swap out, this might be a good option.
Getting into actual leather territory we have things like bonded leather, which consists of gluing and pressing together scrap leather to create something which looks and feels like a continuous leather surface. Cheaper and less durable than genuine leather, this can be a good low-cost alternative.
Genuine leather belts for men tend to come in two categories, and the less expensive of the two is top-grain leather. Here, the manufacturers might use scrap leather as a filling, but create the outer surface out of high quality, full grain leather. Cost-effective and durable, these can last long and give you great value for money.
The highest quality of leather is full-grain leather, which includes the best naturally occurring leather parts that can be found. These often contain natural figurings and blemishes, which increase their appeal. Leather belts for men created out of full-grain leather are usually the most expensive variety, but can deliver the best looks and performance of the lot, and last you for decades with the right kind of care.
Now that you know the different qualities of leather you can expect in commonly found leather products, their advantages and their price points, you can make a more informed decision when the time comes to go shopping for your favorite leather accessories. With the right product, you can best fit your use case scenario and end up with a good value product which serves you well.