Bonded Leather
noun
Definition of Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is a type of leather that’s obtained by bonding scraps of leather and other synthetic materials using adhesives.
It's a cost-effective option compared to real leather, and that makes it a popular choice in the production of furniture, car interiors, and other leather goods.
The manufacturing process for bonded leather goes through three steps:
- Leftover scraps from real leather are ground into a fine dust to create a uniform texture then bonded with latex.
- The mixture is applied to a fabric or paper backing to make a sheet, which is then coated with vinyl or polyurethane as a protective layer from damage.
- The leather is finally embossed to give it an artificial texture with a uniform pattern, though it lacks the natural markings found on real leather.
This kind of leather contrasts the real leather with natural markings that we use for our Scarred Range Collection, where each scar tells a unique story of the hide it’s made from.
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The hide used in this collection bears scars from insect bites, branding marks, and devil’s rope scarring sustained by cattle as they ran into barbed wire.
The one advantage of bonded leather is its affordability and availability in bright colors, something not possible with full grain leather.
But just like bicast leather, it's not durable. Over time, the material cracks or peels and also becomes prone to scratches and stains.
To maintain bonded leather products, it's important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and heat to prevent them from drying and cracking.
Clean them using a cloth dampened with soapy water and avoid abrasive materials such as rough sponges or products containing ammonia.
Example of Bonded Leather in a sentence
“My bonded leather bag started peeling a few months after I bought it.”
Synonyms
Reconstituted leather, blended leather, composition leather.
Related terms for Bonded Leather