It is the top grain that is of the best quality of a hide and it is that reason that we only offer the top grain. B uying leather can be a very difficult journey, there are numerous things to look for and ask about when you are deciding to buy a piece of leather furniture. A hide when removed from a steer can be up to three quarters of an inch thick. Then it is sliced into several layers, the top layer is the top grain and all the rest are split hides. Supply and demand controls the majority of it.
Every hide has only one top grain layer and can have three, four or more split hide layers.
Therefore less supply more demand drives the price. A top grain will produce a softer more supple feel because it does not need to go through as many steps to make it furniture ready. A hide starts by growing straight up and as it gets closer to the outer layer the hide starts to intertwine or thatch creating a stronger layer, therefore making the top grain layer the strongest layer. This is based solely on the condition of the hide in its original state. Hides are graded and separated into various qualities which will determine the cost, much like how a 1-karat diamond can vary in price.