One is the type of finish and dye job and one is the grade of the leather itself. I never buy NA made leather furniture but usually Italian or sometimes German made . I know nothing about the maker you are asking about. I like full grain analine dyed leather . I only buy furniture that has the same grade of leather everywhere and that incluses the back I never like springs for support in a oices that should last forever since springs wear out . Webbing stays the same forever or in my experience at least 40 yrs. Often leather sofas use a leather look on the back the easy way of course to tell is if it is all one piece it is not leather for sure . But lots of cheap pieces now use pieces to fool you. I would never buy a leather piece online . Even italian made has different grades of furniture and I know it is confusing but do lots of reading before even sitting .

@Mary Elizabeth

I just spoke with someone at Bradington and Young.

What I wanted to confirm is that their "Finished" leather furniture is Top Grain. They confirmed that.

But they also state in general: "we only use Top Grain".

I pointed out that some of their descriptions mention "Full Grain" and they said that indicated it had to top part of the skin. Which I knew. Their Aniline and Aniline Plus are synonyms for Full Grain which I knew but this time around I wanted to make sure I knew what the Finished leather was.

Now, full disclosure... We currently have a BY Raylen Aniline set in our house. We have been treating it but some portions have turned black. I may look into refinishing for the recliner but the sofa and love seat are going. It turned out our household is much more active than we thought. If you read the fine print they mention Aniline leather can even be sensitive to certain medications people are taking.

We're going with Finished this time around.

Thanks again.

"Portions have turned black"? Can I ask how long you've had your current leather furniture?

Our chairs are about 12-14 years old, and the only thing I'm seeing that bothers me is some color fading. I'm assuming it's from sun exposure, even though they're in a room with windows facing a west & north - both very shady, plus light filtering shades which are always down.

@Mary Elizabeth

It's four years old. Honest, we're clean people at my house! This is the result of a couple of nights of people staying over after festivities. I've also sent this to BY to look at.

hair oil or very greasy hair -- stains leather

some medications can cause body or head sweat to stain leather

dog pee is very bad as well!!

Bradington Young was sold & its not the same quality. they ate cutting corners now & not producing the product before. i have sofa from 15 yrs ago & i need the cushion replacments. company has stopped several models mind being one of them. they arent into customer service now. about 25 yrs ago they helped me a chair that needed cushion cores & stabilizer they worked with me through severs months to get it repaired. i wont buy Bradington Young

a. Full Grain Leather: This is the highest quality leather, made from the top layer of the animal hide. It retains its natural grain pattern and has not been sanded or corrected. Full grain leather is known for its durability, breathability, and beautiful patina that develops over time.

b. Top Grain Leather: This is the second-highest quality leather, made from the layer below full grain leather. The surface is sanded and finished to remove imperfections, resulting in a more uniform appearance. Top grain leather is more pliable and less durable than full grain leather, but it still offers a high level of quality.

c. Genuine Leather: This grade includes leather made from the lower layers of the hide, which have been split from the top layers. Genuine leather may be sanded, embossed, or finished to improve its appearance. It is less durable and breathable than full grain or top grain leather but is more affordable.

Nubuck

Nubuck leather is most often made from top grain, although, in some cases, you might come across nubuck leather made from full grain. It may feel similar to suede, but it isn’t suede.

Nubuck leather is delicate in appearance, with a comfortable surface of short fibers, creating that luxurious texture worth raving about. Keep in mind that some variations of nubuck leather might be more durable than others:

Investigate to see if the product was crafted from full-grain leather. What makes nubuck worth your dollar is that it comes from the durability and natural splendor of full grain leather. With the grain-side up, the top grain leather is sanded or buffed to create a soft, velvety texture, smooth to the touch.

Bradington Young has been sold to Hooker Furniture in recent years. They are considered more of a medium to high end leather furniture builder. They cater to the masses somewhere in the middle for their price points. They really excel in the reclining or motion offerings. Reclining sofas, leather recliners and sectionals with power options including articulating headrests.

All the leathers they offer are top grain (first cut of the hide) cowhide. All better leather furniture manufacturers ONLY use top grain for upholstering.

Finished leather is a leather that has a surface protection applied. Some also refer to it as aniline plus or protected leather. These will be your most protected leather finishes. Cleanable and good for high traffic areas.

Aniline leather has a pure natural finish. Only transparent dyes have been applied and these leathers are susceptible to spills. Water spills can cause water rings. Oil spills like pizza or fried chicken will leave oil stains. These leathers are still durable they will simply offer a wear story. Much like a bomber jacket worn in the rain or a saddle for a horse. They are very durable they just change with use. That is their beauty.

That is the leather shown in the picture in this thread. That is a pure aniline leather, and something has spilled or happened to darken the area. This is always to be expected with a pure aniline leather. PURE meaning unprotected.

Nubuck is when the top of the leather had been buffed to feel like a suede or flannel. Some are treated and repel spills and others are not. Always question your salesperson if spillage is a concern.

Top grain is the first cut of the hide and the most durable. The second cut is the split and not soft and supple like the top grain. Splits are often used by lower end furniture builders. Bradington Young does not use the split anywhere on their furniture.

Full grain means the surface has not been altered in any way. It displays its natural grain pattern as opposed to embossed or decorative like croc or other decorative prints. A full grain leather can be a semi aniline or a pure aniline.

Genuine leather is just as it says. It is the genuine article not imitation, authentic. It is real leather!