A full grain leather portfolio can be one of the most useful things you could carry with you during your work day. You can store many things in your portfolio, including a notepad, business cards, and any critical papers you need to secure wherever you go.
But what is full grain leather? The term sounds like a marketing buzzword, but there are plenty of things surrounding full grain leather that deserve to be explored.
Where It Comes From
Full grain leather comes from the strongest part of the hide. The full grain surface is the layer below the animal’s hair. The surface will not have been sanded or buffed. The leather layer is protected to ensure the surface features the defining characteristics of leather that you would expect.
The Preparation Process
Many things go into the process of preparing the full grain leather for a portfolio:
- The skin that the material comes from is treated at the start. Some preservatives may be applied to protect the surface.
- The skin is soaked and cleaned off to restore its moisture. The soaking process could take days in some cases.
- Proteins and natural fats are removed. This work by soaking the material in an alkali solution.
- The hair will be removed from the skin alongside any remaining fats.
- The hide is cut in several horizontal layers. The top layers under the hair should be preserved for use as full grain leather.
- The material should be bleached and pickled. In this process, the pH level is slightly lowered. The design helps to allow tanning agents to go through the surface, thus improving upon how well the leather will appear.
The thorough work that goes into producing a full grain leather surface should be noted well. The practice will ensure that the leather on your portfolio will stay sturdy and beautiful for years to come.
Physical Features
There are two physical points to note surrounding a full grain leather portfolio:
- You’ll notice plenty of stress lines and other blemishes on a full grain leather surface. Growth lines, scars, and other features may be prevalent. The quality is thanks to how the leather hasn’t been treated with any corrective materials. The natural look adds to the quality of the surface.
- A patina will develop on the leather surface. The patina is a natural change in the color of the leather. This may entail a brown surface becoming slightly darker. The effect occurs faster on untreated pieces and adds a classy style.
The best part of a full grain leather portfolio is that no two portfolio models will ever look the same. Even if those portfolios come with the same sizes and pocket features on the inside, you’ll discover that your individual model will have a natural look that is more inviting than what you might expect.
The quality of your full grain leather portfolio will be made possible by many intriguing features. Take a look at how well a full grain leather surface can work when you’re aiming to find something to carry with you for work purposes.
