Leather is created from tanning the skin and hides of smaller animals. The skin is cleaned first and then tanned. Products that appear to be made of leather may have a label on them that states "genuine leather". This added tag implies that their is also an option of "imitation leather". What is the difference? Imitation leather can certainly give an appearance very similar to genuine leather. The surface is given a color and shine to mimic the real stuff. The best imitation leather is made using a substance called textile substrate. When leather, a natural product, is truly "genuine", it is more durable than fabric and resists wear. Genuine leather that has not had color added to it will show changes in its surface when scratched. Scarring and marks will show over time. This is a good sign. Leather furniture tends to be made from the hides of larger animals that produce hard wearing leather, like cows or bulls. The quality of the skins will depend on the size of the animal it came from and the conditions the animal lived in. Animals raised in good conditions will produce better hides. It takes a master craftsman to know the process of creating leather and build good quality leather furniture. This makes it more expensive than other types of furniture. The equalizing factor is that your leather furniture will provide you with many years of use and will only look better over time. Make sure you get what you should when you purchase leather.About the Author: