Materials · Split & Suede
Split Leather & Suede Shoes, Built on the Second Layer
The layer beneath the top grain, brushed into a velvet nap. Suede is where the range opens up in color — and where unit costs stay competitive without leaving real hide.
The grade, defined
What split leather means in a quotation
A hide has layers: the grain on top, the split beneath. The split is dense fiber with no grain surface of its own — brushed, it raises the nap called suede. In our codes it is specified as SP-01 (split suede 1.4 mm in the reference styles), at a working thickness of 1.2–1.6 mm.
Suede's trade is range. It dyes to a wider color space than grain leather, it reads clean and matte under retail lighting, and it prices below the top-grain grades. The nap carries its own care story — a suede brush, protection against water spotting — and it is worth writing that expectation into your product copy.
Position it in value and seasonal programs: unlined loafers for spring, suede chelsea boots for autumn, fashion colorways that would price out in full-grain. Cemented construction keeps the landed cost sharp; Blake is available where the silhouette calls for it. And keep the nap straight: suede is brushed on the split, while nubuck is brushed on the grain side — a different material with a similar look.
On the spec sheet
Grade: Split / Suede · Code SP
Thickness: 1.2–1.6 mm
Tier: Value
Seen in: OX, BR, LF, MS, CB value and seasonal styles
Typical specification
How we quote the SP hide
| Parameter | Our standard |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.2–1.6 mm |
| Finish | Brushed split — suede nap, matte |
| Tanning | Chrome (standard) |
| Common uses in our range | OX, BR, LF, MS and CB value and seasonal styles |
| Hide code | SP-01 |
Indicative figures for planning purposes — binding quotation upon specification.
Programs on this material
SP-01 in the current range
Style reference
Style reference
Style reference
Ordering indicators
Numbers for your planning sheet
| Indicator | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Pilot MOQ | 50–100 pairs per style, mixed sizes |
| Standard MOQ | 300 pairs per style per color |
| Sampling | 7–14 days on existing lasts |
| Bulk lead time | 30–45 days ex-factory |
| FOB reference — SP + Cemented | US$12–20 / pair |
| FOB reference — SP + Blake | US$18–30 / pair |
Indicative figures for planning purposes — binding quotation upon specification.
Related pages
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Suede for the season?
Send the color story and your target FOB. We reply with an SP-01 sampling plan, nap and color references, and indicative bands by construction.