The real sort of hide (7)
I believe the answer is:
leather
'hide' is the definition.
(an animal hide)
'the real sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates anagramming the letters.
'the'+'real'='thereal'
'thereal' anagrammed gives 'LEATHER'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for leather that I've seen before include "Tanned animal skin" , "Treated hide" , "Whip" , "Dressed hide" , "durable material" .)