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Suede: The Napped Underside Explained
Suede is the fuzzy inner split of a hide, brushed to raise a nap. Soft and handsome, but thirsty and easily marked.
Suede is made from the corium split rather than the grain, then buffed to raise fibres into a velvet nap.
Nap direction changes the colour
Brushing suede one way lightens it and the other darkens it; that shifting tone is the material's whole appeal.
It absorbs everything
Open fibres take up water, oil and dust. Protector spray before first wear is not optional.
Definitions
- Nap
- Raised fibre surface produced by buffing split leather.
Supporting attributes
- Source layer
- Corium split
- Water tolerance
- Low without protector
- Care tools
- Crepe brush, suede eraser, protector spray
Entity relationships
- Nubuck
- Leather Texture
- Leather Care Products
Frequently asked questions
Buying advice
Reserve suede for dry-season shoes and accessories, and buy the protector spray at the same time.
Summary
Suede rewards maintenance more than any other leather surface.
Visual references
- Brushed nap directional comparison