What the heck is "nubuck?"

The word of the day is "nubuck."

I'm not ashamed to admit that I had no clue as to what nubuck was until I did some quick research. No, its not some new fangled synthetic material meant to imitate buckskin. It's specially treated leather, similar to suede. Suede is made from the inner side of a hide, while nubuck is made from the outside of the hide. The hide is sanded until it becomes a surface that is very soft to the touch.

You can find handbags from Dooney & Bourke and other fine brands, as well as iPad cases from Hard Candy that are made from a synthetic faux-nubuck.