Suede, nubuck and velor: about the difference in materials. natural nubuck

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Are you interested in a couple leather shoes but you can't choose between genuine leather, nubuck and suede? This may all seem a bit confusing at first, but by the end of this article, you will be skin experts.

Leather, nubuck and suede: description

First of all, Genuine Leather, nubuck or suede are all types of leather. The difference between the two is actually very simple, depending on what part of the leather is used and how it has been treated. is a type of leather that has been processed and polished.

Genuine Leather

Genuine leather refers to the type that has not been buffed. For example, unpolished cowhide is high quality leather. It is made from a part of the leather that is almost free from defects, that is, it does not have cuts, tears or holes of any type. That's why it doesn't need to be sanded.

Full Grain Leather is a type of leather that has not been worked at all and has the original markings of the animal it came from. Skin characteristics vary greatly depending on the type of animal. This is one of the most natural leathers.

Raw - is one of the most recycled and most popular leather options. Its top layer is polished and processed. This group of skin includes the most common types. These skins are treated to make them more uniform and to remove any imperfections that may have been found on the animal's hide.

Nubuck

Historically, nubuck leather was made from deer or elk leather and was introduced to the American market in the early 1930s. First this new type leather was not a big success until the Duke of Windsor went on a royal visit to the United States. He was wearing new nubuck oxfords, and thanks to him a new style became popular.

To make nubuck, an outer layer of calfskin is used, then the leather must be sanded on the outside. In most cases, nubuck is more expensive than suede. This is because the outer layer of calf leather is tougher than the inner layer used for suede and is therefore stronger and will last longer. They fall into the aniline leather group, although they are not. Aniline leather is the smallest percentage of leather in the world. It may differ more light color. However, this is also a disadvantage, because the nubuck is sanded on the outside, and may have some natural skin imperfections.

Suede

Unlike nubuck, the inner layer of calfskin (or other animal skins) is used to make suede. The suede is also buffed on the inside of the leather for a smoother and more pure product than nubuck. But, as mentioned above, this also means that, compared to nubuck, suede is not as resistant.

Many people think that suede gets damaged when wet. Although it is not recommended to expose suede too a large number water, suede shoes will not be destroyed if they get wet. Avoid wearing suede on rainy days if possible, but if you do, don't worry, your boots will stand the test just fine. In fact, suede does not require much maintenance, and treating the shoes with waterproof products and brushing them regularly with a brush (with soft bristles) to keep them fluffy will be enough.

What is the difference between nubuck and suede?

Nubuck is actually a type of suede, and both are typically made from leather, such as calfskin, although they can also be made from sheep, cow, goat, or deer. At first glance, they look the same, but are actually created and processed differently, as noted earlier. Nubuck and suede differ from each other in that nubuck is made from the full grain side of the hide, which is the outer part, while suede is made from the underside of the leather. Both of these skins are created by grinding.

Because of this difference, there is a wide price range between nubuck and suede, with suede being the cheapest. Nubuck is made from top quality brushed leather used to make high quality leather goods.

What is the difference between nubuck and suede?

• Nubuck has a velvety texture due to the polishing that creates a soft surface. Down are short protein fibers on the surface of the skin that help create a velvety surface.
• It is more durable and reliable, and more resistant to damage and wear than suede.
• It also has genuine leather markings, giving it a rougher appearance than suede.
• Stronger and thicker than suede. It is usually more expensive than suede. For example, nubuck resists water damage as water simply darkens its surface temporarily and then dries without causing any lasting damage. Despite the fact that his appearance more similar to suede, nubuck has more similarity to aniline leather.
• Nubuck scratches easily. It's vulnerable skin as it can't use protective covering any type.

Suede is much softer than nubuck as it is produced from the inside of the leather that comes into contact with the animal's flesh. It is ground and polished to remove all impurities.

• Suede is more flexible than nubuck. She is much thinner.
• Suede - good material for lining in shoes, but it is not as durable as nubuck.
• It can also be easily stained as it has a more porous surface and it is recommended to apply a protective agent on its surface.

Tanners must often apply a dye or color to mask the embossing and sanding methods they use to finish nubuck leather, although sometimes the finished leather is white.

When caring for suede or nubuck, it is important to choose the right brush for each material. Since nubuck is a harder material than suede, if you use a nubuck brush on suede, it will damage the down. On the other hand, a suede brush used on nubuck will be almost ineffective.


Many find suede shoes harder to maintain and more expensive than their shiny leather counterparts. This is far from the truth. Suede and nubuck actually require less maintenance. These boots don't need to be polished or polished at all, so say goodbye to your weekly shoe shine.

Cosiness hearth largely determines the furniture. The mood of all household members depends on its quality and aesthetics. Remember how pleasant it is to touch the natural leather of some sofas and armchairs, how sometimes you want to sit on elegant chairs and how much joy can give just one look at the designer coffee table Or the original chest of drawers with a mirror.

upholstery quality upholstered furniture- this is a guarantee of its long service life and pleasant tactile sensations. Nubuck is a wonderful fabric for upholstered furniture, so that sofas and armchairs in the room beckon with their velvety and sophistication. And its wear resistance and water-repellent properties make it possible to speak of high-quality premium-class furniture from it.

Material characteristics

Many "advisers" on the Internet confuse nubuck with suede, velor, genuine leather and even fabric. Let's conduct a small educational program, what is nubuck and how it differs from other materials, what types exist. Often people are looking for an answer to the question, is it leather or not.

Since ancient times, there have been several ways of tanning leather. They do this with the help of fat, salt, extracts of certain types of trees (for example, oak), sand and other materials. The main difference between nubuck and suede is the material and method of tanning. The skin of small cattle is used for suede, and for large cattle (deer, elk, yaks) for nubuck. Tanning of suede is carried out with the help of fat and fat-formaldehyde compounds. Nubuck is tanned with mineral salts, most often chrome.

Leather treated in this way is more supple and wear-resistant. Shoes and furniture upholstery made of nubuck remarkably resists stretching and shock loading.

But it must be remembered that natural suede and natural nubuck are capricious materials. They are demanding external conditions and need constant care.

The main advantage of natural nubuck is the aesthetic and tactile pleasure from contact with it. Lying down on a sofa upholstered in natural nubuck is like touching something soft and tender! And shoes from it look great in any situation and with any style.

Where is it applied?

This material has two directions:

IN shoe business natural oiled nubuck is more common, as it has water-repellent properties. For furniture production, a natural analogue is better suited - it is more pleasant to the touch.

Kinds

There are three types: natural, artificial and nubuck-oil (aka oiled). Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages and is used for certain needs of the furniture and footwear industry.

Natural

The skin of cattle is tanned with salts mixed with chromium. Then its front side is treated with finely abrasive materials - sand or sandpaper of a minimum fraction. The resulting material has a delicate surface with a fine pile. It is highly breathable. Its velvety texture has made it popular with Italian furniture makers who upholster their sofas, armchairs and beds with it.

The pleasant feeling of touch and the beautiful appearance of nubuck need to be protected and protected.

Natural nubuck is not a wear-resistant upholstery material, it must be periodically treated with antiseptics and special solutions. It is more decorative than practical.

Artificial

This upholstery material is a completely different direction. It is obtained by alternately spraying polymers on each other. The appearance and usability of this material depend on the diameter and length of the sprayed villi.

Of course, artificial nubuck is cheaper than its natural counterpart. But it lasts much longer and can be used in a wider range of temperatures and mechanical stresses.

Since it does not absorb water, it can be used for kitchen chairs, corners and sofas. She will be much less problems than if it is covered with fabric or upholstered in genuine leather.

In the photo, a sofa upholstered in nubuck:

The living room and dining room, the furniture in which is upholstered with an artificial analogue of nubuck, is practical and durable.

If more than enough is known about such a material as leather, then, for example, what is the difference between suede and nubuck, few people will answer. And this information will be very useful when choosing new shoes or outerwear, because the type of material directly affects the beauty of the thing, and its durability, and the time spent on care. So, leather, nubuck, suede - what's the difference between them? What raw materials are used to make them? What is the area of ​​use? After reading the article, you will find out the answers to these and whole line other questions.

Leather

Genuine leather - unique natural product whose history spans thousands of years. It is used for the manufacture of clothing, footwear, accessories, as well as furniture production (upholstery of upholstered furniture). Despite the fact that new varieties of materials appear on the market, leather does not lose its relevance.

Advantages:

1. A beautiful, noble and respectable appearance, indicating not only a solid status, but also refined taste owner. Small abrasions on the surface of leather products give the product a special charm and in no way look sloppy.
2. Reliability and practicality in a sock.
3. Ease of care.
4. Durability. Leather items are quite expensive, but their long life makes them more economical than other materials.

The disadvantages include the fact that genuine leather cannot be attributed to completely unpretentious materials. It does not tolerate moisture (stretches strongly) and exposure to UV rays. And, of course, the disadvantages include the high price of the material. If the last factor does not scare you, then for long-term wear of any things made of this material, you just need to know how to properly care for them. You can read about it in our following articles:

Important! Many people ask: what is better - nubuck or leather? Each of these materials is good in its own way. Another thing is that leather is definitely more practical.

Nubuck

This is one of the varieties of natural leather. Despite the fact that nubuck products are widely represented on the market, there are many false statements about it. For example, many for some reason believe that this is one of the varieties of leatherette. In fact, this is in a special way dressed genuine leather.

Important! The manufacturing technology is as follows. The skin is subjected to chrome tanning, and then polished using abrasives: sand, skins. The purpose of this treatment is to obtain a velvety, very pleasant to the touch surface.

Another one typical mistake: often put an equal sign between suede and nubuck. Although they have only one thing in common: they are based on the skin of various animals. To obtain nubuck, cattle leather is used, which determines its strength.

The scope of its application is quite diverse:

• Manufacture of shoes: boots, shoes, boots: for men, women and children.
• Bags, wallets, accessories.
• Outerwear. Vests and jackets are quite durable and warm, although not as common as suede ones.
• Furniture production - as upholstery, as an alternative to leather and textiles.

Important! It is hardly correct to talk about what is more practical - nubuck or suede, since each of them has its own scope.

Advantages:

• Beautiful appearance.
• Vapor permeability (material "breathes").
• Acceptable cost.

Important! To appreciate all the advantages of this material, you must be able to determine the quality of products and care for them. As an example, let's take helpful tips regarding footwear, as it is most popular in the use of such material:

Flaws:

• The need for special care.
• Inability to wear in wet and dirty weather. Clothes and shoes can be hopelessly damaged.
• Less strength than regular leather.

Kinds

In addition to natural, there is artificial nubuck. Outwardly, it looks like a natural material, it is quite wear-resistant. However, the "breathing" effect in artificial product missing completely. The breathability is also lower than natural tanned leather. The cost of products from artificial material low enough.

In addition to natural and faux nubuck, there is also a third variety - nubuck oil. This is a material with a fatty impregnation that protects the product from getting wet.

Important! To the touch, shoes made of nubuck oil feel damp or slightly greasy. As practice shows, for demi-season shoes This - perfect option. Therefore, if you think that it is better - suede or nubuck for this time of year, then the choice is obvious.

Suede

This is a material obtained from genuine leather of sheep, deer or wild goats. Type of dressing - tanning: fat or formaldehyde-fat. Suede itself is soft, but durable enough. Suede is used for sewing clothing and footwear, making bags and accessories, and in optics (lens polishing).

The suede process (impregnation of the skin with fish, whale or seal oil) is quite long and difficult, so products made from natural material are far from cheap. In the process of dressing, it changes its characteristics and appearance.

Today, more and more often you can find nubuck shoes on store shelves. Boots or boots look no worse than leather or suede, but at the same time they are much cheaper.

In order not to spoil boots or shoes, you need to know: the care of nubuck shoes depends on the type of material. It is divided into several types.

Types of nubuck

Nubuck can be natural, artificial and oiled (nubuck-oil). These varieties differ in the way they are made.

natural nubuck

This is leather tanned with impurities of salts and chromium and treated with front side with sand or sandpaper, due to which a fine, delicate pile is formed on the surface. The material has good breathability, but wear resistance leaves much to be desired. To protect natural nubuck from external influence and extend the service life, it must be regularly treated with special means.

Faux nubuck

Artificial nubuck created on the basis of leatherette or synthetic materials. Outwardly, it is not easy to distinguish whether it is natural or not. But at the same time, the substitute is much cheaper, and the product is worn longer. The disadvantages of the synthetic version include the fact that shoes made of such material do not pass air well, and, therefore, are less comfortable.

In addition, artificial nubuck is easier to care for at home, it is much simpler and more practical to use than its natural counterpart.

Oiled nubuck (nubuck oil)

This material is obtained by tanning natural animal skin, followed by impregnation. oil formulations. Its surface is less velvety than natural or artificial look this material.

Due to impregnation, nubuck-oil has water-repellent properties and increased wear resistance. For this reason, it is most commonly used in the footwear industry.

Pros and cons of nubuck shoes

Nubuck is more often used in the production of winter and demi-season shoes. The benefits of this material include:

• durable surface structure;
• high breathability, which allows the skin to breathe;
• long service life;
• the ability to retain heat;
• beautiful appearance.

In addition, nubuck boots or boots are significantly lower than leather or suede, but they look no less attractive.

However, with all the advantages, there are also disadvantages, for example, poor tolerance to water exposure. But this problem is easily solved thanks to special products that increase water repellency, which are produced specifically for nubuck shoes.

Nubuck or leather: which is better?

Leather boots are considered ideal for winter: they retain heat, do not let in moisture from thawed snow, but at the same time “breathe”, since the material has good breathability. But in a frosty winter, it wears out faster, creases and cracks will appear, because prolonged exposure low temperatures harmful to leather goods.

As for natural nubuck, it should be noted that it will protect your feet from frost just as well as skin and allow the skin to breathe. But in thaw, rain and slush, it is better to leave such boots at home, since the fabric will instantly get wet, which will lead to discomfort for the person and reduce the wear resistance of the material.

Boots made of artificial nubuck will also not allow you to freeze, their appearance is almost the same as natural, but such material does not allow air to pass through, which is bad for the health of the feet.

So which is better, nubuck or leather? If we are talking O winter boots, then when choosing, focus on climatic conditions your area. For harsh and mostly frosty winters, it is better to purchase nubuck shoes. And for slushy and relatively warm - leather.

Which is better: nubuck or suede

At first glance, it is not easy to understand how to distinguish suede from nubuck. In fact, both are leather of a special dressing, only the methods of processing differ. Artificial versions of these materials are also made on the same basis, it is leatherette or synthetics. The external difference is that nubuck has more smooth surface than suede.

So which is better, suede or nubuck? When it comes to natural materials, you need to know that in the manufacture of nubuck leather is used more than High Quality than for the production of suede. In addition, the latter is less resistant to moisture.

Both materials look beautiful and expensive, and each consumer makes the final choice independently.

Nubuck care products

Care for nubuck shoes at home involves the use of special means. To restore previous view boots or shoes, dry cleaning is required. In addition, the shoes will need to be painted.

To care for such shoes you will need:

• Paint for nubuck shoes. This is the main care product for this type of material, in order to restore attractive appearance shoes and the original color, it needs to be painted. In addition, this measure improves the wear resistance of the material.

Before painting the boots, the surface will need to be cleaned of dirty, greasy and dusty stains, and paint should only be applied to a dry surface.

• Protective aerosol. Using this product will protect the material from moisture and help keep the color longer.
• Brush for nubuck shoes. With its help, comb small villi on the surface.
• Special shampoo. Nubuck shoes periodically require dry cleaning, and shampoo will help rid the surface of dirt, greasy spots and divorces.
• Eraser for nubuck. If the dirt is not strong, they can be removed with an eraser so as not to expose the material to water.

When choosing products, pay attention to the labels on the packages. Only those on which there is a mark "for nubuck" will suit you.
To clean nubuck use special brushes

How to clean nubuck shoes

How to clean nubuck shoes and do it right? Dry cleaning and painting of nubuck shoes is carried out in the following order:

• Shoes drying naturally.
• With the help of an eraser, stains and dust deposits are removed.
• The pile is evenly combed with a special brush.
• If the eraser could not cope with all the stains, dry cleaning with shampoo is required.
• The paint is applied. It is important to know that you can paint the product only after the material has dried after dry cleaning.
• Shoes are treated with protective water repellent after complete drying paints.

When dry-cleaning and painting nubuck shoes at home, you must carefully study the instructions for using special products. This will allow you to do the job correctly and not harm the delicate material.

How to restore nubuck

When you have worn shoes for a long time or actively used a bag made of this material, you can see the shiny spots on the product. Do not be afraid, these are crumpled villi, and it is not difficult to cope with the problem.

If there are few problem areas, and they are small, it is enough to process them with an eraser, and the attractive appearance of the thing will be restored. But in the case when the damage is extensive, it is better to use another method: hold the product over a pot of boiling water, and then comb the pile with a brush.

In addition to wrinkling the pile, the problem may be with the color of the product, it becomes not as bright as before. If the changes are minor, you can do this:

• Clean the product with a brush.
• Sprinkle fine salt on the surface and gently rub over the material. This nutritional supplement perfectly restores the structure and color.
• Shake off the pile from the grains, if necessary using a brush.

Acting In a similar way, you will remove the remaining dust that has eaten into the surface and refresh the color of this thing.

How to dye nubuck

Nubuck needs to be painted periodically. You can use only those compositions that are intended for this material, otherwise you will destroy the pile. You need to paint nubuck like this:

1. Clean the product from dust and dirt with a special brush, if necessary, use shampoo and stain remover.
2. Dry the nubuck. Remember that this material should dry naturally; you cannot place such products on radiators.
3. Apply paint to the surface, and do it evenly. If you are using an aerosol, hold the can at some distance from the product.
4. Wait for the nubuck to dry and evaluate the result. If the surface is uneven, repeat the procedure.
5. After drying, comb the cleaned pile and apply a water-repellent composition to the material.

Remember: only dry material can be cleaned, painted and treated with anti-moisture agents.

How to care for nubuck shoes

A product such as nubuck shoes requires delicate handling and care for it must be not only correct, but also careful. Must comply following rules in order for the boots to last a long time and keep original view:

• Do not clean the product until the material is completely dry.
• You can dry shoes only in a natural way, in no case put them on a radiator or any heating devices, this will lead to deformation of the surface.
• Nubuck is contraindicated in conventional shoe creams, which are used for leather products. In this case, the material loses its “velvety”, and it will not be possible to restore the previous appearance of the product.
• Should not be used ordinary soap, for dry cleaning, you need to use only a special shampoo.
• Shoes made of this material are afraid of water, so you can’t wash it, just wipe it with a dampened sponge.
• If you decide to paint the product, do it only after all dirt and grease has been removed from the surface, and the fabric has dried well. Otherwise, the paint will “lie down” unevenly.
• It is better to store nubuck boots in a bag of cotton fabric and not in a plastic bag.

By following these rules, you can keep the original look of your boots or boots for a long time, and they will serve you for more than one season.

Of course, the service life of shoes also depends on its initial quality, so you should not buy the cheapest options, but pick up a new thing from the middle price category.

When choosing shoes for ourselves, we take into account many criteria from the appearance of the product and comfort to wear, to its cost and practicality. Therefore, a good knowledge of the materials and technologies used in the production of shoes helps to make right choice and purchase exactly the products that we need and will please with impeccable service.

One of the most FAQ asked to the seller of shoes: what is the difference between suede and nubuck? We want to note right away that in everyday life it is customary to call almost any product made of fleecy leather suede, although this, of course, is not so. Between these materials there is a difference both in the methods of dressing and appearance, and in practical properties.

The raw material for the manufacture of suede is natural leather from the skins of small cattle (goats, sheep, rams), and elite products - deer and elk skins. As a result, suede has softness, ductility, breathable porous structure and thick velvety pile, pleasant to the touch. Nubuck, on the other hand, is made from the skins of cattle, it is more durable and not so elastic, and its pile is much lower.

Distinguish these materials and other characteristics:

1. dressing method: for suede, the fat tanning method is used (using linen, fish and other fats), and for nubuck - chrome, followed by grinding with fine abrasive substances;


2. water permeability: suede is not afraid of moisture (when it gets wet, it swells and stops letting water through), nubuck does not tolerate getting wet and may lose its presentation (therefore, some of its types are subjected to special water-repellent impregnation, producing nubuck oil);


3. durability: shoes made of nubuck are more durable, as they have better impact resistance and coating density.

As you can see, each material has its pros and cons, taking into account which you can choose the most suitable product for specific qualities.

Nubuck and suede - how to distinguish

How to distinguish when buying shoes from these materials, using the available visual data? The most characteristic difference between the materials is the pile height: suede has a high and thick pile, while nubuck has a much lower pile, and if it is nubuck oil, then its surface will be only slightly fleecy and slightly damp to the touch.

The second sign by which materials can be distinguished is velvety with wrong side Note: suede has fleecy on both surfaces, while nubuck has only the front.

If you are at a loss with the definition, contact the sales assistant of the store. You will always be helped to understand all the nuances and make the right choice.

How to care for suede and nubuck shoes

Shoes made of suede and nubuck look very stylish and elegant, they are pleasant to wear in any season. However, these products need special care, which will help prevent their premature wear and protect against adverse effects that affect the appearance and consumer characteristics.

Before you go outside in your new shoes for the first time, treat them with a water-repellent spray for suede and nubuck, available from a shoe store or department store. household chemicals. The spray creates a thin layer on the surface of the skin that repels moisture, dust and dirt. Repeat the treatment from time to time during the season, protecting the surface of the shoe.

Clean the products with a special brush for suede and nubuck, regular brush does not fit here - it can damage and ruin the pile. Special brush delicately cleans the surface of dust and dirt, removes stains and grease, raises the pile and restores its velvety. Clean suede shoes can only be in a dry state, and dry at room temperature away from heat sources.