Critter skin without the hair.
This kind of leather also may be referred to as "full top grain".
It may be the full thickness of the original hide or only the top or outer side, but don't fear, it has been carefully de-fuzzed before processing.
Blemishes? OK, you may get some of those.
The original grain surface of the skin? Yep, you get that also.
Hair? No. No hair.
Surface debris? No. None of that either. No surface debris.
Full-grain leather used to be common in boots, but these days even boots aren't that common, so hey.
Likely you won't see any residual tattoos either, but if you do, you get to carry around that warm, fully authentic feeling, that knowledge that something with a heart and soul has died for your feet.
Full-grain leather then is the stuff that has a smooth finish, unlike "rough-out", suede, or "nubuck" types of leather.
So full-grain leather will therefore show scuffs and cuts, needs at least a minimal amount of care, and can take a polishing, if you're that sort of person, and it is exactly that sort of leather that works this way, though not all full-grain leather can handle polish.
Some is oil tanned (too greasy).
Some, especially the softer stuff as used in gloves, wouldn't relate well to polish either.
Leather is tanned in various ways, and some versions really only need to be wiped clean, brushed, and buffed a bit to keep them looking fine, without polish.
If given the slightest chance though, leather does absorb water (from the outside), sweat (from the inside), and takes forever to dry once any of that happens. And fungus just loves it, does fungus.
So while leather is tough and durable, even the best leather degrades in time. No matter what you do it will get old and brittle and crumbly and no longer be good for anything, just as you will.
Have a nice day. While you still can.
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