Pigmented leather is any top grain leather to which a clear topcoat and pigments have been applied. The pigments are what usually give the shiny even top colour to the leather. The leather may or may not be aniline dyed. Sometimes the pigments are applied to a base crust of a different colour and in this case the leather is not dyed all the way through. If the pigments are applied to a hide that has been aniline dyed a matched for colour then this leather is called a Protected Aniline Leather. Leather is usually pigmented to give it durability and hide its natural blemishes. Pigmented leather are easy to maintain and have maximum resistance to wear, soiling, and fading from light.