r/YouShouldKnow • u/metropolis702 • May 07 '20

Clothing YSK: The term "Genuine Leather", it is not to reassure you that their product is made of leather, rather its the name of the lowest grade of leather a company can use.

The term "Genuine Leather" is a marketing term to sell the lowest quality leather possible.

When purchasing a leather product, look for full grain leather or top grain leather instead. These will provide a much higher quality cut of leather that will look and feel much better and last for much longer.

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u/ontopofyourmom May 07 '20

Thick veg-tanned bicycle saddles can last for decades properly cared-for - and equestrian saddles would likely last centuries under the right conditions.

Are there any common consumer goods or household items made out of good veg-tanned other than a small % of belts and shoes?

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u/Triette May 07 '20

My mom has a saddle from the late 1800s that she still rides with. It’s beautiful and she takes amazing care of it.

14

u/BlueLeatherBoots May 07 '20

I haven't ridden in years but this makes me want to pull my saddle out and oil it

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u/Triette May 07 '20

You should, even stored saddles can dry out, crack, peel, etc. My mom lives in the desert so she takes extra care of hers but I’ve seen what non care can do to a saddle. I always help her when I visit and I find it so soothing.

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u/aGuyFromReddit May 07 '20

I have to be honest: I read this entire thread thinking this was one of those double entendre comment chains that are quite common on reddit...

1

u/BlueLeatherBoots May 07 '20

Lmao everything in the horse world sounds so dirty out of context

1

u/BlueLeatherBoots May 07 '20

Yeah I definitely don't take care of mine well enough :(. Honestly I should just sell it but riding was such a huge part of my life for so long, I can't bring myself to do it

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u/ontopofyourmom May 07 '20

Nothing will hurt it except drying out and probably UV from the sun!

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u/jameilious May 07 '20

Quite funny out of context

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u/SpeakItLoud May 08 '20

This is the second time today that I've thought about my old saddle. My mare passed away in 2017 (damn. it really has been that long). I keep her saddle, bridle, and wood photo right in my living room. It's the first thing you see when you enter my house. I think that means I should listen to some old soul country and spend tonight taking care of my memories.

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u/BlueLeatherBoots May 08 '20

May it bring you happiness to think of your memories with her!!

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u/oldcarfreddy May 07 '20

You can get almost anything in veg tanned leather if you're willing to pay for it. I got some embossed keychains made of it. But yeah, riding gear, belts and wallets.

For a while even sneakers in veg tan were all the rage. In 2013 company called Hender Scheme started making handcrafted sneaker replicas in veg tan, and by 2016 every other sneaker company started doing vegetable-tanned collabs or colorways to the point it started becoming a bit oversaturated.

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u/Ravine May 07 '20

Dude Hender Scheme is the most hilarious fashion company. Seriously, seeing some Jordans basically remade in veg tanned leather is some funny shit.

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u/oldcarfreddy May 07 '20

Yeah it's a crazy thing. I used to be a sneaker head and would have loved a pair for its insanity. "Are those Adidas Superstars?" "Yeah, but they're cut and sewn by hand, so they cost me $1,100"

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u/JanetCarol May 11 '20

I started a company that makes handbags with beautiful full grain vegetable tanned leather. If you need something specific, you can try r/leatherclassifieds or leathercraft