Leather Types
What Is Nappa Leather?
Nappa (napa) leather is a soft, smooth leather from calf, lamb or kid skins. A trade name with no test, it comes from Napa, California. Finishes explained.
Nappa (also spelled napa) leather is a soft, smooth leather, usually made from calf, lamb or kid goat skins. It is a trade name, not a standard: there is no distinct test that makes a leather "nappa". The name comes from Napa, California, where the original process was developed.
This answer is part of our guide to leather types, textures and finishes.
Napa leather meaning and origin
The napa leather meaning goes back to the Sawyer Tanning Company in Napa, California. A German tanner there, Emanuel Manasse, created the process, and it was sold as "Nap-a-tan", a waterproof shoe leather. Today the term just means a soft leather used for bags, clothing and car seats.
What nappa leather is made of
Nappa is made from soft hides: calves, lambs and kid goats. Collonil, a leather care maker, describes it as particularly soft, chrome-tanned smooth leather from any animal skin. Chrome tanning uses chromium salts and is the most common modern method. One seller notes that chrome-free nappa, tanned with synthetic agents, is now also made.
For the sheepskin version, see what lambskin nappa leather is.
Four kinds of nappa finish
Collonil sorts nappa into four finishes:
For the open-pored finish in depth, see what aniline leather is.
| Nappa finish | Surface | Trade-off | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural (aniline) | Open-pored, dyed with aniline dyes, natural marks visible | Very sensitive to dirt, fat and fading in sunlight | – |
| Slightly pigmented | Dyed through, with some pigment added | More even look; still lets water vapor through | – |
| Pigmented | Color fixed to the surface with a binder | Easier to clean, less breathable | – |
| Sanded | Grain sanded, then colored | Very smooth; natural features almost gone | – |
Is nappa always full-grain?
Sources disagree. Some sellers define nappa as full-grain leather with the hair side out. Collonil lists a sanded nappa whose grain has been sanded away. Full-grain, by definition, keeps the whole grain. Since the word has no test, a "nappa" label alone doesn't settle the grade. Check for a grade on the tag, as explained in what genuine leather means.
Where you meet nappa
Car seats, handbags and clothing are the usual places. Thin, soft lambskin also turns up in gloves. Most Leather Collection men's leather gloves use a 0.8-0.9 mm (about 1/32 in) lambskin, which the store says bends easily and suits dress and driving gloves.
Other soft leathers have different surfaces: chamois is an oil-tanned sheepskin split, and pebbled leather has a bumpy grain.
FAQ
Is nappa leather real leather?
Yes. Nappa is a name for soft leather made from animal skins such as calf, lamb and kid.
Is nappa leather good for car seats?
It is used for them; the term today covers soft leather for car seats, bags and clothing. Because nappa has no set test, ask which finish it has: pigmented nappa is easier to clean than natural aniline nappa.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.