Saffiano leather is a popular leather finish within the handbag industry. However, the Saffiano leather bag you purchase may not be the same quality as the original Saffiano leather.
The Original Saffiano Leather
The original Saffiano leather was created by the House of Prada. The Prada design house is an old and established Italian tannery. The Saffiano leather finish was a patent and signature design of Prada. Some purse owners are dedicated to only purchasing Prada Saffiano leather purses.
What Is Saffiano Leather?
Saffiano leather is made with a cross hatch print. The leather is coated with wax and the cross hatch print is then pressed into it. This process provides water-resistance and scratch resistance to the leather so that it protects and preserves it.
First Prada Saffiano Leather Purse
Designer Mario Prada is rumored to be the creator of the Prada Saffiano leather finish. When the first Prada Saffiano was made in 1913, it was an immediate hit. Over a hundred years later, Saffiano leather is still highly valued and desired. It remains an iconic leather within the fashion industry. So much so, that almost all designers and handbag manufacturers have some Saffiano handbags in their collections.
Is Saffiano Leather Genuine Leather?
Prada Saffiano leather is genuine high quality calf leather. However, since the patent expired, the industry embraced this finish. Other design houses and manufacturers create their own version of Saffiano leather in the production of their handbags, so the leather quality varies and is usually different from the original Prada Saffiano leather.
Industry Use of Saffiano Leather
Within the handbag industry, you'll find countless Saffiano leather bags for sale. The Saffiano cross-hatch pattern finish is also used on PU leather (Polyurethane) that imitates genuine leather. Since the process for creating this pattern finish may vary from one design house to the next, you need to read the descriptions carefully to understand the leather quality of the bag. Prada still uses their signature Saffiano leather. This means that any Saffiano leather that isn't manufactured by Prada is going to be different.
Appearance of Saffiano Leather
Full grain leather is used in a Prada Saffiano leather process. The pattern is created by the crisscrossing diagonal lines. This pattern provides a resilience to the leather that resists stains, scuff marks, scratches, and even water. The color is enhanced by the Saffiano process, so it better saturates the leather.
Saffiano Leather Sturdiness
Another positive aspect of Saffiano leather is its durability. The strength of the leather reinforced by the Saffiano leather finish makes it a great leather choice for all kinds of purses, totes, clutches, satchels, wallets, and laptop bags.
Saffiano Leather Care and Maintenance
You will want to properly care and maintain your Saffiano handbag to keep it looking its best. While the finish may be resistant to water, you don't want to use a household cleaner that will damage or remove the finish.
- Keep your bag stuffed when not in use, so it will maintain its shape and prevent creases.
- Place your bag in a dustbag to protect it.
- Every two to three months, clean your Saffiano purse either with a soft damp cloth.
- When cleaning, gently rub the purse with the cloth to avoid removing any color or finish.
Where to Find Saffiano Leather Handbags
Most design houses offer some purse designs in Saffiano leather. A few of those include Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, and of course, Prada.
Saffiano Leather and Its Use in Handbags
The use of Saffiano leather is found in designer handbags. Not all Saffiano leather is genuine leather and may be PU or vegan leather designs.
