Epi leather is one of the many leather types that experts often recommend for making solid and durable products. To make the best use of it, you better know, “What is Epi leather?”
Epi leather is stylish vegetable-tanned leather characterized by textured, horizontal patterns. It has an excellent finish with a protective coating, making it moisture-resistant. This leather type holds a rich history and has come thus far as one of the most luxurious types of leather.
Perhaps you must have heard the term “Epi” leather in conjunction with the fashion brand Louis Vuitton – you’ve heard right. It is among the novel leather lines of this signature designer. Here, you have all you should know about Epi leather served in one dish.
What Is Epi Leather?
Epi leather is a vegetable-tanned leather distinguishable by its stamped patterns and moisture-resistant protective coat. The horizontal lines and textured marks on the finished leather give a unique feel when you touch its surface.
Is Epi leather vegan? No, this type of leather is made from animals’ skin, mostly calfskin. Since Epi leather gets sourced chiefly from the hide of young cows, you would find it supple and soft.
Are you curious as to how this leather came to be? Epi leather came to the limelight in 1926, courtesy of George Louis’ customized tea case trunk. George, the son of Louis Vuitton, who at that time was heading the company, fulfilled a customer’s request, the Maharajah of Baroda (in India), by making this case covered with grain-pattern stamped leather.
From this inspiration, the Louis Vuitton Company launched the Epi leather in 1985, used in manufacturing the brand’s front-line leather product.
Epi leather is a delicate product that undergoes a few processes that make it unique. First, the animal hide goes through “tanning,” where it gets subjected to natural plant extracts – this process is often used for most quality leather.
The next process is dyeing the leather; the tanned Epi leather is dyed with vibrant colors to make them appear more attractive. You would often find Epi leather in varying colors, with some dyed matte and others having a glossy appearance. Following the dye job, the need to seal the leather may arise since this helps the colorant last longer.
Once the leather dyeing is concluded, the hide is pressed with large metal-plate machines, leaving those desirable patterns. One more step in this leather processing is the finishing. Leatherworkers often apply a protective coating to finish off the final appearance of this leather.
This procedure gives the leather a scratch and moisture-resistant coating that is different from other types of leather. Various imperfections, including wrinkles and scratches, are fixed during the leather processing.
Is Epi leather durable? Although soft and supple, Epi leather is lauded for its durability and comes in handy for producing several leather products. If you need a unique and luxurious leather option for your next project, then Epi leather is worth considering!
Types of Epi Leather
Two major types of Epi leather are referenced according to their appearance and dyed colors.
Classic Epi Leather: Classic Epi leather generally has a muted or matte color alongside its solid textured pattern. Its appearance results from unique color dyeing technology, which leaves such an exclusive color.
Louis Vuitton introduced the classic line in 1985, having a precise color that people love. This type of Epi leather is also attractive and enticing for a reminiscent appearance.
Electric Epi Leather: Electric Epi Leather has a shiny and polished appearance with its patent-emerging finish. The dyes and oils employed for this leather’s finishing make it resistant to water and scratch.
The glossy look makes this leather different from Classic Epi leather, and this feature makes it relatively easy to maintain. Furthermore, the leather has clearer interlacing and more extensive texture lines.
Epi Leather Products
Epi leather is very durable, and Louis Vuitton often employs it to produce top-quality leather goods such as handbags, wallets, notebook covers, totes, and belts. It is also used in different types of clothing. However, some of the top Epi leather bag designs that Louis Vuitton offers to include:
- Alma
- Brea
- Malle
- Marly
- Petite Noe
- Phoenix
- Soufflot
- Speedy
How to Care Epi leather
Adequate leather care is crucial for keeping all leather products in pristine condition, and you can expect your Epi leather to last long if you maintain it properly. Epi leather does not necessarily require much to keep it in good condition. However, you must learn to clean, condition, and store it well.
Cleaning Epi Leather
Learning how to clean Epi leather is highly recommended to ensure you do it correctly. However, Epi leather doesn’t require much cleaning supplies, thanks to finishing this leather. Thus, a clean and damp rag or soft-bristled brush should do the trick in removing dirt and grime from the leather item.
You can also use suitable leather cleaner or a mild soap to remove tougher stains. But, when removing stains on leather, it is crucial to determine the type of stain first. Such an action would help you find the best stain-treating method for Epi leather.
How to Condition Epi Leather
As stated earlier, Epi leather does not attract much work when maintaining such items. It is not always compulsory to condition Epi leather products especially when the leather already appears sleek.
Again, the protective finishing on the leather would prevent conditioning oils and wax from penetrating. Notwithstanding, consider conditioning the leather once you notice the surface finish wearing off.
Applying a generous amount of leather conditioner would make the leather piece more flexible, supple, and scratch-resistant. Start by rubbing the conditioner on the clean Epi leather surface with a soft cloth – do it in circular, small motions and let the leather dry away from heat.
Tips for Storing Epi Leather
- Store Epi leather in a cool area, in low light, and away from excessive heat.
- Leather doesn’t like moisture, and you should keep your epi leather products in less-humid places.
- Avoid storing the leather in plastic coverings – you should consider acid-free paper wrappers to keep the leather away from dust.
- Do not use metal hangers; you can store leather jackets, coats, and pants using wooden hangers.
- You should never fold your Epi leather clothing before keeping them away.
Watch this for a better understanding.
Pros and Cons of Epi Leather
Epi leather is an excellent material, but you must be aware of the advantages and possible disadvantages.
Pros
There are various merits attributed to Epi leather, with the first being its durability. This product is quite sturdy and can endure the rigors of everyday use. You would barely notice genuine Epi leather items tearing or cracking, even as they age.
Thanks to this leather type’s fantastic finishing, it remains resistant to scratch and moisture. It is never a good idea to scour or expose your leather items to water, but Epi leather can resist minor scratches and rain splashes.
Another reason why you would like this leather is its low maintenance. The protective finish prevents dirt from adhering to the leather surface; hence, it is pretty easy to clean.
Cons
Epi leather is an impressive option that thrills most fashionistas, with the micro-ridge texture on the leather surface of many stylish leather accessories. However, the major downside to this leather type is its high cost.
This leather type is a treasured material of Louis Vuitton, a top fashion brand like Gucci and Chanel. So, you should expect an Epi leather bag or wallet prices to be relatively high. Moreover, it is full-grain leather with many “most-sought” features, making it costly. Nevertheless, such an investment is worth it since Epi leather is long-lasting.
FAQs
Q: Is Epi leather real leather?
Epi leather is genuine since it comes from the hides of animals. This leather type mostly comes from young cows’ hides, giving it a supple and soft feel. You should know that Epi leather has several processes to give a stunning appearance.
The leather is vegetable-tanned, dyed, and machine-stamped, revealing horizontal texturized patterns. Furthermore, the finishing on Epi leather makes it resistant to moisture and scratches.
Q: Is Epi leather better than canvas?
Based on several reviews, Epi leather is genuine and relatively better than canvas. When you compare Epi leather vs. canvas to know which is better, you should know that Epi leather is stiffer but has a comfortable feel.
While Epi leather is made from the full-grain hide, the canvas is fabric coated with PVC employed by such brands as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Fendi. Canvas is reportedly suppler, and extended use softens the leather. It is also a more popular option because it is less expensive when compared to Epi leather.
Q: How do you spot real Louis Vuitton Epi leather?
You can easily spot authentic Louis Vuitton Epi leather using the following hints.
- The first thing you would notice on a Louis Vuitton Epi leather is the lightly embossed “LV” logo.
- On the stamps of authentic LV products, the O is much bigger than the L as it spells “Louis,” and the T’s for Vuitton are almost touching each other.
- Look at the stitches on the leather; real ones from Louis Vuitton should have adequately aligned quality and the stitch length emerging in equal lengths. Also, LV monogram bags have yellow-colored trim stitching.
- Check the date stamp to see if the leather item is real or fake LV.
- You would find thick Alcantara microfiber linings in genuine Louis Vuitton Epi leather bags. You can easily spot fake ones having the same feature through their thin Alcantara microfiber linings.
- Be sure to look for D-shaped hardware like zipper pulls or accent pieces.
Q: What is Louis Vuitton Epi?
Louis Vuitton Epi leather is an attractive and stylish material made chiefly from calfskin. This leather is supple and exceptionally durable, able to resist some level of scratches and water.
The leather style emerged in 1926 by George Vuitton and was later introduced by making the first leather products of the Louis Vuitton Company in 1985. It helps make handbags, backpacks, wallets, belts, and notebook covers.
Q: Does Epi leather crack?
Thanks to its high quality, Epi leather does not crack, peel, or chip. This leather is very durable and should serve you for an extended period. So, it would help to note proper measures in caring for your Epi leather items to keep them in excellent condition.
Nevertheless, you wouldn’t need to do much since this leather type has an excellent finish that makes it easy to clean. Unless the finishing starts wearing off, you may not necessarily need to condition the leather. Finally, store your Epi leather in a cool, less-humid, and dry place, free from heat.
Final Words
The Louis Vuitton Epi leather is one deluxe option that makes various gorgeous products. But what is Epi leather? Epi leather is a vegetable-tanned sourced from the hides of young animals, mostly cowhide.
Interestingly, Epi leather comes in various fancy colors, mainly matte and shiny colored options. This leather type makes handbags, purses, wallets, and more accessories. If you are considering availing Epi leather items, kindly read this piece to learn in-depth about leather.
