The Silkysport is a full calf suede, tanned in the UK. That means, if you flip that leather over, you get the smooth-leather side of fine calfskin; the sturdiest and most expensive part of the leather. Because of the thickness of this leather, most companies will split that leather thinner, its essentially like slicing bread, to get more layers and more leather out of it. Alden will ONLY use the top layer and keep it thick; they will not use the underneath layers.