Is it REAL Leather?

How do I know if an item I purchased is REAL Leather?

This is a great question and my first answer is, you will know for sure an item is genuine leather when you buy from Sole Survivor.  Sole Survivor has over 40 years experience in the leather industry.  We know the U.S. tanneries and their sources of raw materials.  We know and deal with jobbers both domestic and abroad who buy specialty leathers to re-sell to small and medium-sized leather businesses like ours.

The truth is that it is often hard to tell if an item is genuine leather just by looking at a label.  There seems to be no regulation of the labeling of most so called leather goods.  There may be regulations in place, they just don't seem to be being enforced.  The advantage Sole Survivor has is that we are purchasing the raw material and making the items ourselves.  It's always clear to us that we are buying genuine leather.  But when it comes to finished goods, even our experts can be fooled for a moment.  Sometimes we must cut into the item in an hidden place to see the proof.

Due to the popularity of leather furniture in recent years, the industry HAS lately taken note.  You now hear ads that refer to BONDED LEATHER.  Friends, this is not genuine leather.  Thank goodness they are now calling it what it is but the harsh truth is that bonded leather is not GENUINE LEATHER.

I'm out of time for now but will return with much more on this subject in the near future...