What is the difference between suede and nubuck?

Let's turn our attention to two types of leather that are loved for their soft, velvety feel - suede and nubuck. Often used in making upscale shoes and jackets, these materials bring a blend of luxury, comfort, and style to any collection.

What is Suede?

Suede is a type of leather made from the underside of animal skin, commonly from lambs, goats, pigs or calves. It is known for its softness, flexibility, and velvety finish. Suede's napped finish gives it a distinctive look and feel, making it a favorite for creating shoes and jackets.

Is suede real leather?

Short answer - Yes, suede is 100% real leather. The raw hide undergoes a process of buffing and sanding. This process raises the fibers of the hide that results in it's famous soft and fuzzy finish.

Why is suede so expensive?

The cost of suede can be attributed to the complex and labor-intensive process required to create it. Also, because it's made from the underside of the hide, a larger number of hides are needed to produce the same amount of suede as other types of leather.

High-quality suede often comes from younger animals, whose skins are softer and more luxurious, adding to its cost.

What is Nubuck?

Nubuck, on the other hand, is top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side to create a slight nap of short protein fibers. It's similar to suede in softness, but it's generally more durable due to its origin from the outer side of the hide.

Is nubuck real leather?

Absolutely, nubuck is real leather and is also created from the outer side of a hide.

Benefits of suede and nubuck

Suede and nubuck both offer aesthetic and tactile appeal. Their soft and plush textures provide a luxurious feel that's comfortable against the skin. Both suede and nubuck deliver a casual, and relaxed look, without sacrificing style.

What are the cons of nubuck and suede

While both materials offer certain advantages, they are not without their drawbacks. Both nubuck and suede are less resistant to water and stains compared to full-grain leather. They can be damaged by liquid spills, and removing stains can be tricky without the right products.

For example: Raw denim can bleed onto on suede a nubuck and create a blueish stain around the edge. The lighter suede or nubuck color the worse the stains can be.

Care Tips for Suede and Nubuck

As previously mentioned, they need a little extra care to maintain their appeal. They should be regularly brushed with a specialized suede or nubuck brush to maintain their nap. (particularly in a single direction motion as opposed to vigorously brushing back and forth)

To protect them from stains and water damage, use a high-quality suede or nubuck protector spray. I'll dive into this further in a bit.

Personally, I find suede to be more sensitive.

Treated poorly and it can look like Fozzie Bear from the muppets:

Nubuck because it is buffed down a bit more can take a little more of a beating. This is especially true for darker nubuck colors.

However, like most leather products you're investing in a product that with proper care, can last you for years to come.

Can you waterproof Suede and nubuck?

Suede and nubuck are not water-resistant without some extra help from some products like a suede protector. They usually come in the form of a spray.

A few companies boast water resistant suede, while these products should be ok for your first few months of wear they will require maintenance when it comes to adding a layer of protection.

Basically suede protector products coat the fibers and prevents water from soaking into the material.

It's important to note that this doesn't make suede fully waterproof and exposure to heavy rain or immersion in water should be avoided.

You can also use a suede protector spray on nubuck.

What to do if you suede or nubuck gets wet

If your suede or nubuck items do get wet, let them dry naturally, away from direct heat like radiators.

Wrap up

Suede and nubuck offer a captivating aesthetics and comfort to switch it up from the classic leather styles.

Ex: Suede shoes a can give an outfit a smart casual vibe or a nubuck jacket can be a nice change form the classic leather jackets.

If your looking to upgrade your collection - try exploring the world of suede and nubuck, and experience the softer side of leather. (just be careful with rain)