Nubuck is top-grain cattle rawhide leather that has been sanded
or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap
of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface. It is
resistant to wear, and may be white or coloured. Nubuck was used
by cowboys as it was light and comfortable.
Nubuck is similar to suede, but its texture is finer. It differs
in that suede is created from the inner side of a hide, whereas
nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more
strength and thickness along with a fine grain. It is generally
more expensive than suede, and must be coloured or dyed heavily
to cover up the sanding and stamping process.
The word nubuck is probably derived from "New Buck".
