Materials · Top-Grain
Top-Grain Leather Shoes, Uniform in Every Pair
The same top layer as full-grain, lightly corrected so the surface takes color and finish evenly — the practical grade for volume programs where consistency is the specification.
The grade, defined
What top-grain means in a quotation
Top-grain leather is also cut from the top layer of the hide. The difference happens at the finishing stage: the surface is lightly sanded or corrected to clear natural defects, then refinished to an even texture. In our codes it is specified as TG-01 (top-grain, smooth), at a working thickness of 1.0–1.4 mm.
The correction removes a measure of surface fiber, so top-grain sits just under full-grain on peak durability. What it gains is consistency: panels within a pair and pairs within a shipment match in shade and temper, and every finish in the catalog takes evenly across the run.
That consistency is the reason buyers choose it — mid-market volume programs, uniform and hospitality footwear, and any brand where visible shade variation between pairs becomes a customer-service problem. TG-01 runs through Oxfords, Derbies and loafers across the 26 series, and pairs with Blake or cemented construction.
On the spec sheet
Grade: Top-Grain · Code TG
Thickness: 1.0–1.4 mm
Tier: Balanced
Seen in: OX, DB, BR, LF, CB, BT balanced styles
Typical specification
How we quote the TG hide
| Parameter | Our standard |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.0–1.4 mm |
| Finishes | Aniline, semi-aniline, pigmented |
| Tanning | Chrome (standard) |
| Common uses in our range | OX, DB, BR, LF, CB and BT balanced styles |
| Hide code | TG-01 |
Indicative figures for planning purposes — binding quotation upon specification.
Programs on this material
TG-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 — TG + Blake | US$18–30 / pair |
| FOB reference — TG + Cemented | US$12–20 / pair |
Indicative figures for planning purposes — binding quotation upon specification.
Related pages
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Planning a top-grain program?
Send the style, the target market and your annual volume. We reply with a TG-01 sampling plan and indicative FOB bands by construction.