Leather Grades

Many of our highland dress accessories are made from leather, but there can be a significant difference in the quality of leather from one product to another. We also offer some products in leatherboard, which is a slightly different material.

Quality of Leather

In general, the quality of the leather varies with the country the item is produced in. Items made in Scotland are usually made with a higher quality of leather than imported goods.

For example, our sporrans which are made in Scotland feature a higher quality of leather than those which are made abroad.

Leather Grades

We may include a 'grade' rating when describing the leather used in production of a particular item. This is an estimation with A being the highest and Z the lowest. Items described as being made from Grade A leather are made from the highest quality of leather.

What Is Leatherboard?

Leatherboard is a composite material made from irregularly laid leather fibres, or scraps of leather, and a variety of other materials including rags, paper or cardboard. It is formed into sheets of a controlled thickness, and treated to look very similar to real leather.

It's properties are similar to that of real leather, and most people can't tell the difference. The most obvious difference is that the rear of the material has a consistent smooth texture, unlike real leather's natural appearance.

As it is cheaper than real leather, it offers a competitive priced alternative without changing the appearance significantly. However, over the natural lifetime of the material, it is unlikely to wear as durably as leather.

Again, the quality of the leatherboard is largely controlled by the country that the product is produced in. Leatherboard used in products which are made in Scotland is of a significantly higher quality than those which are made abroad, and many retail stores sell leatherboard products claiming they are made from real leather.