suede

Velvety shoe material

Suede is leather with a soft, napped surface, made by buffing the inner side of animal hide.

The texture is velvety but vulnerable to water and stains: suede shoes, a suede jacket.

As an adjective, it describes the material or its characteristic finish: suede elbow patches.

The word comes from French for Sweden, where the leather was first produced.

material

leather

Tanned animal skin

nubuckSanded cowhide with nap
buckskinTanned deer pelt
chamoisGoat-antelope or its leather

lambskin · cowhide · goatskin · pigskin · calfskin · kid · pelt · hides · microfiber · faux

texture

nap

Brief daytime rest

brushedTouched in passing
buffedRubbed to shine
suppleFlexing without damage

soft · velvety · matte · pliable · napped · sanded · fuzzy · plush · smooth · grain

garments

jacket

Sleeved upper-body covering

bootsAnkle-covering footwear
loafersLaceless slip-on shoes
chukkasAnkle-high laced footwear

gloves · skirt · vest · blazer · pumps · moccasins · oxfords · handbag · clutch · belt

color

tan

Yellowish-brown hue

camelHumped desert mammal
taupeMuted gray-brown hue
cognacGrape-based distilled spirit

chocolate · black · navy · blush · burgundy · charcoal · sand · chestnut · olive · mustard

luxury

high-end

Premium quality tier

premiumAdded cost for better
designerOne who plans appearances
upscaleElegant and expensive

bespoke · Italian · craftsmanship · artisan · exclusive · refined · elegant · sophisticated · quality · handcrafted

care

brushing

Sweeping motion with bristles

waterproofingMaking impervious to moisture
protectorOne who safeguards others
eraserMark removal tool

staining · scuffing · conditioning · cleaning · restoring · weatherproofing · spot-cleaning · deodorizing · storage

Categories

fabricscotton, silk, linen, wool, satin
shoe materialsleather, rubber, canvas, nubuck, synthetic
animal materialsfur, leather, hide, pelt, wool
Coat Fabricswool, tweed, fleece, down, gabardine
leather typescowhide, full-grain, top-grain, nubuck, nappa
shoe partssole, heel, toe, insole, outsole

Opposites

leather finish/texture

suedepatent leather

Lacquered hide, highly reflective

patent · smooth leather · full-grain leather · nappa leather

material texture

suedevinyl

Synthetic resin plastic

patent · plastic · satin · silk · lacquer

Phrases

blue suede shoesSoft leather footwear, dyed
suede shoesFootwear of brushed leather
faux suedeSynthetic napped fabric
suede jacketGarment of brushed leather
suede bootsFootwear of brushed leather
suede loafersLaceless shoes in brushed leather

Family

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G