At first glance, suede and nubuck tend to be confused and even mistakenly used as synonymous terms. But to well-trained eyes, one type of fabric has nothing to do with the other. In fact, they even differ in their manufacturing origin. So, what are the differences between suede and nubuck? In this post, we are going to explain in detail the four main differences between both materials.
Processing
Although both materials come from the sanding of animal skin, suede is obtained by polishing the inner side of the skin, while nubuck comes from the sanding of its outer side. Originally these products were obtained from elk or deer, but due to strict laws protecting these species, cow, sheep or pig skins are now used.
Finishing
Due to a similar finishing is why people may confuse the two materials. Although both suede and nubuck have a soft texture that changes slightly in tone when sliding your finger in the opposite direction of the hair, the bristles of the two leathers are different. Suede has longer, more visible bristles, while nubuck has shorter bristles.
Maintenance
Although the maintenance of both materials is practically identical, the difference in their hair influences the type of brush to be used for cleaning and care. Nubuck is more resistant and usually has less texture, so a brush with metal bristles can be used to clean it and remove dust and dirt, while the soft surface of suede requires the use of a brush with softer bristles of plastic, natural (from horse or pig hair), vegetable or synthetic. Suede, once cleaned, is ideally brushed with plastic, natural, vegetable or synthetic bristles to comb the hair in the desired direction. For both materials, our De Luxe brush is ideal, as it incorporates both metal and plastic bristles, making it a must for the maintenance of suede or nubuck shoes and garments.
Quality
In general, nubuck is usually found in premium boots and jackets of well-known mountaineering or outdoor brands.
Otherwise, there are many types of suede of various qualities. We can find from split suede very present in boots and garments of medium and low ranges for daily use, for its lower price and resistance, to suede leather or also called suede, more elegant and soft, and present in higher quality items, being more delicate and requiring specific care. For all of them, one of the best ways to clean them is dry cleaning, which can be done with our Shampoo and dauber brush, and with which a delicate and effective cleaning is achieved.
Despite the many differences that may exist between suede and nubuck, the cleaning and maintenance of both surfaces is very similar. If you want to know more about the treatment of those fabrics, you can read our article about how to clean suede and nubuck shoes or garments:
Header picture: Noah Smith in Unsplash
