The Hometown Difference in Leatherette

Written By Jeremy Barton

If you run a laser, you already know the truth: not all leatherette is created equal.

A lot of suppliers talk a big game about “premium materials,” but once you start cutting and engraving, the reality shows up fast—thin sheets, foam cores that melt, inconsistent finishes, and customer service that disappears the moment the order ships.

We’ve tried a lot of leatherette over the years.

Then we found The Hometown Co.

And honestly, it’s been a game changer.

The Thickness Difference: 1.8mm Solid Core

One of the first things that stood out to us was the thickness.

Most leatherette on the market sits around 1.5mm and often uses a foam core. That might not sound like a big difference on paper, but when you’re making patches and products that people actually use, it matters.

The Hometown Co. leatherette comes in at a beefy 1.8mm.

That extra 0.3mm might not sound like much, but in the maker world it makes a real difference:

  • Patches feel more substantial

  • Edges look cleaner when cut

  • Products hold their shape better

  • The final product just feels higher quality in the hand

And because it uses a solid core instead of foam, you avoid the issues that plague cheaper materials—like layers separating or edges looking rough after engraving.

When you're building products meant to last, material thickness matters.

Cleaner Engraving

If you’ve ever engraved foam-core leatherette, you know the problem.

Foam melts.

When that happens, it can create extra soot, inconsistent engraving, and sometimes even leave residue inside the engraved areas.

The solid-core construction from The Hometown Co. engraves noticeably cleaner.

The results:

  • Crisper detail

  • Less soot

  • More consistent engraving results

  • Better contrast

For patch makers and product makers, that means less cleanup and better finished products.

Customer Service That Actually Exists

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get mentioned enough in the maker world: customer service.

When you’re running a shop, delays matter. Bad communication matters. Getting the wrong material matters.

Working with The Hometown Co. has been refreshingly different.

They respond quickly.
They answer questions.
They care about the product they’re shipping.

That level of service is rare, especially when you’re used to dealing with large suppliers that treat you like just another order number.

It’s clear they understand the maker community.

Supporting East Coast Suppliers

Another thing we appreciate is that The Hometown Co. is based on the East Coast, just like we are.

That means:

  • Faster shipping

  • Fewer supply chain headaches

  • Easier communication

  • Supporting companies closer to home

For a lot of maker shops, relying on suppliers halfway across the country can create unnecessary delays. Working with companies closer to your region can make a big difference.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, great products start with great materials.

For us, The Hometown Co. leatherette checks all the boxes:

  • Thick 1.8mm material

  • Solid core construction

  • Cleaner engraving

  • Reliable customer service

If you’re a maker looking to level up your leatherette products, it’s definitely a supplier worth checking out.

Because when the material is better, the final product shows it.

Jeremy Barton