Aniline leather is coloured using soluble dyes that soak all the way through the hide, without any opaque pigment coating on the surface. This leaves the hide's natural grain, pores and small marks fully visible, so no two aniline sofas look quite the same. It is usually made from the highest quality hides, since there is no finish to hide flaws.
Because it has little to no protective coating, aniline leather absorbs moisture and body oils, marks more easily and fades faster in direct sunlight than a pigmented leather. In exchange it feels soft from day one and develops a rich patina with use. A semi-aniline leather offers a middle ground with a little more protection, and our leather sofa guide explains how to care for either.
