Embossed Leather: What Should the Label Say?

The kind and type of leather should be disclosed when all or part of a product has been embossed, dyed or otherwise processed so as to simulate the appearance of a different kind or type of leather. That is the wording of the FTC’s Leather Guides.

What the text says

• Section 24.2(b) deals with embossed or processed leather.
• A product made wholly of top grain cowhide that has been processed to imitate pigskin may be represented as being made of Top Grain Cowhide.
• Any additional representation concerning the simulated appearance should be accompanied by a disclosure of the kind and type of leather in the product.
• The example is: Top Grain Cowhide With Simulated Pigskin Grain.

What this means when you shop

1. If a bag has a pattern that suggests another animal, look for the real leather type.
2. A description that talks about the look alone is incomplete.
3. Ask whether the grain is natural or applied.
4. Compare bags on the base material, not on the pattern.

A practical note

The look of a pattern tells you about the finish, not the leather beneath it. For a pattern that looks like an exotic animal, ask the seller to confirm in writing what the base material is.

A short comparison

Two bags may look alike, but one is cowhide with a printed or pressed pattern, and the other is a coated fabric with a moulded pattern. The Guides ask for the leather type to be disclosed in the first case. In the second case, the non-leather nature of the material should be clear. In both cases you should be able to find out from the label or listing.

Where this answer stops

The Guides address how a product is described. They say nothing about quality, and this is not legal advice. Wildlife trade rules for real exotic skins are a separate subject.