Alcantara

Synthetic or imitation suede. 

Croc embossed

A technique for stamping leather or PU with a pattern to resemble crocodile skin. 

Leather

Animal skin or hide, that has been treated so that it will not erode, even in the presence of air and moisture.

Nubuck

Leather which has been buffed on the grain side to give the surface an extremely fine suede feel a ‘very fine nap’.

Patent Leather

A leather which has an extreme shiny surface. 

Pony hair

Calf leather with the hair still on, giving a short pile.  

Porvair

A name for a synthetic upper material that is permeable like leather.

Protaurus

A soft synthetic material that has the handfeel of nubuck but shows a natural grain like leather. 

Sheepskin

The leather which is derived from a sheep, often very soft leather. Can also include hair on - as shearling. 

Snake embossed

Material has has been pressed to resemble the look and texture of snake skin. 

Suede

Leather in which the fibrous surface, also known as the ‘nap’, gives the leather a matte appearance.