what's wrong with corrected grain

oneade · Feb 16, 2009

there's plenty of threads against corrected grain. but i still can't find a reason why it's actually bad.

does the leather not last as long? why?

Tarmac · Feb 16, 2009

appearance

Ich_Dien · Feb 16, 2009

It cracks easier and does not age very well generally. ie does not attain a patina over time.

rioni · Feb 16, 2009

looks cheap

DocHolliday · Feb 16, 2009

Too shiny, for one thing. Looks unnatural, like plastic. But it's really an issue with quality. Here's a pair of J&Ms in what initially appeared to be decent corrected grain. Much less shiny than most of what you see out there.

That's after a couple of wears. The soles aren't even worn in yet:

Here's a pair of full-grain EG boots with more wear:

See the difference? In 10 years, the EGs will look great, building a lovely patina with time. The J&Ms will be in the trash.

HORNS · Feb 16, 2009

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Too shiny, for one thing. Looks unnatural, like plastic. But it's really an issue with quality.

Here's a pair of J&Ms in what initially appeared to be decent corrected grain. Much less shiny than most of what you see out there.

That's after a couple of wears. The soles aren't even worn in yet:

Here's a pair of full-grain EG boots with more wear:

See the difference? In 10 years, the EGs will look great, building a lovely patina with time. The J&Ms will be in the trash.

And . . . Thread/

Sanguis Mortuum · Feb 16, 2009

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Here's a pair of J&Ms in what initially appeared to be decent corrected grain. Much less shiny than most of what you see out there.

That doesn't actually look too bad. On the other end of the corrected-grain scale I have some corrected grain Grensons that look absolutely shocking. Rather than the creases being soft they are much harder, the individual bits of crease are sharper...it's hard to explain...but the result is that it looks more like plastic than leather...

I also got some Alfred Sargents which turned out to be corrected grain (The Eden). They're black so the corrected grain means they are quite shiny which actually suits the style, and they're not quite as plastic-like as the Grensons, but I still wouldn't have bought them if I'd known they were corrected grain.

Tarmac · Feb 16, 2009

It can get worse than that. I would say this is more representative of what CG looks like.

This is a $468.00 shoe.

forex · Feb 16, 2009

Doc,
what is the name of the boots?Are those the ones you got during the sale from jlpowell?

Baron · Feb 16, 2009

I have a pair of CG Sargeant chukkas that might turn out to be decent. I've worn them a few times and they haven't creased at all. The insole notes that they're goodyear welted. I suppose there's a lot of variety in quality levels between various CG leathers. I also noticed that Vox has a pair of CG Church bluchers that are 20 years old and in decent shape. Maybe one of the shoemakers can step forward and give us a CG tutorial once and for all.

Tarmac · Feb 16, 2009

Yeah I would like to see a mid-grade CG, for a rain shoe. Something where the water beads off but the surface finish doesn't go crackle and pop after 2 wears. Kinda like patent leather, but not as shiny - is there such thing?

voxsartoria · Feb 16, 2009

My Church's Shannons, bought twenty-three years ago, in their "Bookbinder" corrected grain:

Nicer corrected grain can have a similar look to cordovan with aging.

- B

Bird's One View · Feb 16, 2009

Fewer than a dozen wears.

Tarmac · Feb 16, 2009

Thats not CG. That's vinyl

DocHolliday · Feb 16, 2009

Originally Posted by forex

Doc, what is the name of the boots?Are those the ones you got during the sale from jlpowell?
It's the Harrington, and mine came from GVH.

Originally Posted by Tarmac

Yeah I would like to see a mid-grade CG, for a rain shoe. Something where the water beads off but the surface finish doesn't go crackle and pop after 2 wears. Kinda like patent leather, but not as shiny - is there such thing?
That's what I thought I was buying with the J&Ms. Never again. I'll agree that there's variations in the quality of CG, but I still consider it a red flag. The positive attributes some people see in it don't appeal to me, same as I don't go for no-iron shirts.

what's wrong with corrected grain

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