Men's Leather Belt: 4 False Truths About Genuine Leather

I like this old proverb because it's a classier way of saying if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. That certainly holds true with men's leather belts and the leather used to make them.

I blame the fashion industry a bit for the falsehoods people believe about one of my favorite materials. They've trained us to think that flawlessness is a superior characteristic in an item. That sleek and smooth is a sign of perfection.

And that anything that's "aged" in our wardrobes is not worth owning.

They forget that leather used to be a living thing, and that living things aren't in any way perfect or flawless. They've also forgotten that not everyone wants items that have a cookie cutter sameness.

Leather's unique natural properties include flaws like scars and color differences. These allow for what I like to call "perfect imperfections".

And aging? Fine wine and a finely crafted men's leather belt have a lot in common there, only getting better and more distinct as time goes by.

Today, I'm going to take on the falsehoods and myths surrounding the so-called "genuine leather".

It's an important subject to tackle, especially if you want to be a better informed leather belt shopper. It'll help you make better buying decisions, as well as help you understand why we stand by our products in the ways that we do.

So, get set to learn the truth behind the falsehoods and myths of genuine leather.

Here's a handy graphic that shows exactly where in the hide the various grades of leather originate.

As you can see, genuine leather is not top quality. In fact, it's what's left after the top quality, top grain leather is removed from the hide. Genuine leather is, in reality, leftovers.

Now as much as I love a good cold turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving, there's a limit to the amount and quality of the leftovers I enjoy. And leftover leather doesn't make the list.

That's why at Popov Leather, we only use top grain leather for our men's leather belts and other products.

The "perfection" of genuine leather is a man-made illusion. It's taking something of poorer quality and trying to make it appear as something it's not.

The leather we make our men's belts and other products from may not be perfect, but it's perfectly top grain, high quality stuff.

Genuine leather doesn't have those pores or those thicker, stronger fibers. That means it traps moisture inside. This trapped moisture breaks down the genuine leather product over time, and shortens its lifespan.

All that makes genuine leather weaker and certainly less longer-lasting than top grain leather. Our men's leather belts and other items carry a lifetime guarantee, because we make them from leather that could last several lifetimes.

Because it's a part of the inside of the hide, genuine leather typically has to have some sort of coating added, too. This is often some sort of plastic, like polyurethane to make it look shiny and polished. It can also make it look smoother and more "perfect".

Look at the inside of one of our full grain leather belts. It's "fuzzy" like suede from the sanding it receives on the inside or underside of the hide. The upper surface, however, is beautiful, natural, barely-processed, high-quality full grain leather.

I know that some of you are more interested in buying a leather belt rather than reading about leather. Maybe your pants are falling down as we speak. Maybe you're not a leather geek like me.

Whatever your preference, here's a handy table with the bare facts about genuine leather.

You may be saying to yourself: Does it really matter? A belt's a belt. If it holds up my pants, who cares?

I do.

I started Popov Leather at my dining room table, as a hobby. Something to keep me busy and give me a creative outlet. I have a personal stake in the quality of the products we make, and the materials we use to make them. I won't sell something I wouldn't buy.

The 20 some Popov Leather team members do. 

My team is proud of what we do, proud of what we make, and proud to call our community home. The fact that we make every order to order and answer questions personally, gives us an old-fashioned yet forward-thinking company culture. 

Lastly, our customers care. They want long-lasting, good-looking, high-quality products. Sure, their belts just hold up their pants, but they also do it fashionably, and for years and years to come.

Here's what a couple of them had to say about the quality and looks of our top grain men's leather belts.

Here's Rory B., a high-quality leather belt convert.

And here's Jim B, who couldn't stop at just one Popov Leather item.

Why not join these guys and hundreds others? Become a men's leather belt convert like Rory, or a repeat customer like Jim and many more. We promise you, at Popov Leather, we're all about the substance and the style.