Patent Leather, Patent Laminated Leather & Metallized Leather

Patent leather is defined by its high-gloss lacquer or varnish coating applied to the grain surface, creating a mirror-like finish. Other finished leathers may be dyed, embossed, or buffed but lack this specific coating. The presence of the lacquer layer — or a bonded plastic film in the case of patent laminated leather — is the determinative classification criterion.

Metallized leather achieves its finish through the application of metallic foil or a vacuum-deposited metal layer rather than a lacquer coating. Both fall within this SITC heading, but they serve different end-use markets — metallized leather is more common in fashion accessories and novelty footwear, while patent leather dominates formal dress shoes and classic handbags. Importers should specify the finishing method on commercial documents to support accurate classification.