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What is Suede?

Sally Foster
Sally Foster
Sally Foster
Sally Foster

Commonly used to make boots, gloves and other fashion accessories, suede is a kind of leather with a smooth, velvet-like surface. The term was originally used in France to indicate a particular type of soft gloves imported from Sweden. Over time, the word came to refer to any leather material with a smooth nap finish.

Leather is manufactured from the skins of animals, generally cows. Once the skin has been removed from the animal, it is tanned in order to produce a supple, durable material that is used for a number of applications, such as manufacturing clothing and upholstering furniture. Leather that has not been sanded or split in any way is known as full-grain leather. Full-grain leather is usually manufactured from only the best, undamaged hides. As a result, it is the most expensive as well as the most durable of leathers.

A brush for cleaning suede shoes.
A brush for cleaning suede shoes.

When manufacturers seek to produce more material out of a single hide, the leather can be separated into two or more layers, or splits. These include the grain split, which is the outer surface of the hide, and the flesh split, or inner surface. In very thick hides, one or more middle splits may also be produced.

Generally, suede is created from either the inner split or the flesh split of a piece of leather. Because it comes from a thinner piece of hide, suede is less durable than full-grain leather. The nappy texture of the material also makes it more susceptible to damage from water and stains. However, because several pieces of suede can be produced from a single hide, it is also much less expensive than full-grain leather.

Sandpaper, which can be used to restore the nap on suede.
Sandpaper, which can be used to restore the nap on suede.

Although most suede is made from a split hide, it is also possible to produce suede from a full-grain piece of leather. The nappy finish can be achieved by abrading the surface of the leather, usually with an emery wheel. Suede that is manufactured from full-grain leather may also be called nubuck. Full-grain suede is usually more durable than the split-hide variety, but also more expensive.

Outdoor boots covered in nubuck, a type of suede.
Outdoor boots covered in nubuck, a type of suede.

A more durable and cheaper alternative to suede can be manufactured from synthetic materials. Unlike natural suede, the synthetic version is stain-resistant and not susceptible to water damage. Because of this, synthetic suede is frequently used to upholster furniture or other items that may need to sustain a lot of wear-and-tear.

The best way to clean suede is to use a dry sponge or a suede brush to remove dust and dirt. Suede footwear can also be protected with a silicon spray, which will prevent water damage and soil build-up. After the spray has been applied, the nap can be restored with sandpaper or an emery board.

Sally Foster
Sally Foster

Sarah is a freelance writer living in Istanbul, Turkey, where she has taught numerous English language courses and runs a blog focusing on the expat community. Since joining the BeautyAnswered team several years ago, Sarah has become a veritable fount of knowledge on many obscure topics. She has a B. A from the University of Oregon, where she majored in Romance Languages (Spanish and Italian) and Linguistics and an M.A. in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

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Sally Foster
Sally Foster

Sarah is a freelance writer living in Istanbul, Turkey, where she has taught numerous English language courses and runs a blog focusing on the expat community. Since joining the BeautyAnswered team several years ago, Sarah has become a veritable fount of knowledge on many obscure topics. She has a B. A from the University of Oregon, where she majored in Romance Languages (Spanish and Italian) and Linguistics and an M.A. in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

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Discussion Comments

win199

@bbpuff - I remember the concern over water and suede when I was younger, that's so funny. If you're looking at suede furniture (which is a big mistake, trust me), there is a great alternative now as well called microfiber.

It blends the general low profile look of suede with manageability and convenience because it's so easy to clean; you normally just use a little dish soap and water and pretty much everything comes out of it. Can't say the same for suede, unfortunately.

bbpuff

Suede was often a material you had to be extremely careful with - meaning, don't spill water on it or it would literally ruin it. Thanks to developments in fashion, though, there are all kinds of things to protect your suede fabric items with. You can often find them in shoe stores or online and they will help things like suede boots last longer and keep them looking nice for a long time.

anon45493

This is really useful information. I was considering buying one of the latest Catwalk Collection Caprice handbags in suede but wasn’t entirely sure as to what suede leather actually was and as these bags are only available online, you can’t get to see before you buy. This informative article has given me the confidence to go ahead and buy one.

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    • A brush for cleaning suede shoes.
      By: Africa Studio
      A brush for cleaning suede shoes.
    • Sandpaper, which can be used to restore the nap on suede.
      By: Ionescu Bogdan
      Sandpaper, which can be used to restore the nap on suede.
    • Outdoor boots covered in nubuck, a type of suede.
      By: MP2
      Outdoor boots covered in nubuck, a type of suede.
    • Suede is a type of leather that has a smooth, velvet-like surface.
      By: PRILL Mediendesign
      Suede is a type of leather that has a smooth, velvet-like surface.
    • Some kinds of luggage are made from suede.
      By: xcid
      Some kinds of luggage are made from suede.
    • The term "suede" was originally used in France to refer to soft gloves imported from Sweden.
      By: Ekler
      The term "suede" was originally used in France to refer to soft gloves imported from Sweden.