I recently ordered another pair of the Indiana Moc Toe in Brown Full Grain Pull-Up Cowhide, and I’ve run into an issue that I’m hoping others here can weigh in on.
The pair I just received feels noticeably different from my previous one—especially in texture and finish. The new leather feels more like nubuck. It has a visible nap, and the surface changes slightly when brushed by hand. In contrast, my older pair has the firmer, smoother feel I’d expect from full grain leather.
I’ve already contacted customer service, and they said it’s just variation between batches and that I should just accept it as it is. I understand that leather can vary in shade, creasing, and minor characteristics, but this feels like a more fundamental difference—almost like a different type of leather altogether rather than normal batch variation.
Here's another video angle showing the texture difference: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11vngOUnuQj0rv3ZbAKmLHBySeXBXjaMf/view?usp=sharing
For context, I’ve ordered multiple pairs before (for my siblings), and while there were small differences, nothing close to this level of change in texture.
Has anyone else who ordered recently noticed something similar? I’m trying to figure out if this is a one-off issue or if there’s been a broader change in leather.
Appreciate any input!