Faux vs Genuine leather: What to invest on?
If you’re considering to purchase a new leather jacket, you might ask what the distinction is between genuine leather and synthetic leather and whether it’s pricey to get real leather. Being into this business for many years, We at BFH may be in a better position to guide you. The first point to emphasise on is about being aware of the distinction between faux leather and genuine leather. This might assist you in making that crucial choice. So lets dive in.
It’s critical to understand exactly what faux leather is, including its composition, manufacturing process, and general properties. To avoid misunderstanding, if you’ve heard the terms synthetic leather or artificial leather before, these are all basically the same!
Defining Faux Leather
A variety of synthetic materials are used to create faux leather, which is then chemically processed to give it a leather-like appearance. Polyurethane (often referred to as PU leather) and polyvinyl chloride are the two primary materials used in building (known as PVC or vinyl). In PU fabrication, a leather design is pressed into the material itself after a polyurethane finish is applied over a flexible base material, such as cotton or nylon. Although additional procedures are needed to produce the top layer before application, PVC manufacture is substantially identical to PU. Faux leather tends to be more water-resistant than real leather due to the way of manufacture and the pattern-pressing process, but it is not as long-lasting as real leather.
What is Genuine leather ?
Genuine leather is created by processing or making use of goat, sheep, and cow hides. Although cheaper products will use a plastic base and apply real leather on top of it, legally this is still considered a leather product. However it will not last nearly as long, so make sure you’re getting a 100% leather item. High-quality leather products are manufactured using pure leather, resulting in a durable, long-lasting garment.
Advantages of Genuine Leather
Far more durable than faux leather
Realistic look, feel & finish that can’t be replicated
Will last an incredibly long time when cared for
Better quality manufacturing
A unique scent only leather can produce
Advantages of Faux Leather
Although real leather is generally preferred over imitations, faux leather products do have some advantages.
More water-resistant than genuine leather
Cheaper to buy than genuine leather goods
There are more colour options.
Impact on the Environment
Genuine leather
Genuine leather really has the potential to be less harmful to the environment than most synthetic (or “vegan”) leathers when it is sourced from sustainable ranches and tanned organically (excluding the rare vegan leather options made from cotton or cork). It’s also important to remember that the majority of skins used to make leather come from cows that were grown for milk and beef, not for the sole purpose of becoming coats and handbags (and not using their hides could actually be considered wasteful).
Faux Leather
The majority of imitation leather is produced from polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is undeniably true that faux leather has less of an environmental impact than real leather if the only environmental impact you are taking into account is whether an animal skin was utilised to make the leather. But the chemical utilised in manufacturing has an adverse effect on the ecosystem, which impacts all life on the planet, including animals. Additionally, faux leather products deteriorate and require replacement considerably more frequently than genuine leather, which only increases the negative effects. While synthetic leather may only survive for a few years at best, real leather products can last for decades.
How to determine whether the leather is real
Here are some of our helpful hints for telling the difference between Genuine and Faux leather:
Touch
The way the jacket feels is a dead giveaway. Genuine leather will have a buttery, soft feel. A synthetic jacket will feel more like plastic, in contrast. This is because faux leather products use a two-layer production approach, which increases stiffness. Real leather should be flexible and soft; if a product has stretch to it and feels more like plastic, it most certainly isn’t made of real leather.
Smell
The distinctive smell of leather is one thing that a synthetic leather jacket can never imitate. Faux leather will either have no smell or a more plastic-like smell, whereas leather has a very distinct smell (which will eventually fade). Remember that the scent of leather is actually the result of the manufacturing process; a poor-quality product made with subpar tanning techniques can have an unpleasant odour. You will instantly be able to distinguish a real leather jacket from fake leather from its smell alone.
Label
Looking at the label on your leather jacket may be the simplest solution. You should be able to tell from this what sort of material the product is composed of. Real leather products will openly state this on the label, whereas faux leather products will prominently list PU, PVC, or other non-leather components.
Conclusion: Go for genuine leather!
Nothing compares to the scent or feel of genuine leather, and even if you spend more, you get a higher-quality item that will last a lifetime.
You can be sure you’re receiving a one-of-a-kind item that will develop character as you do when you buy genuine leather clothing because no two pieces will ever be exactly the same due to the special qualities of that animal hide. Furthermore, the leather gets prettier and softer the more you wear it.
Due to a combination of the two-layer design and the thinner faux leather material, faux leather has a lifespan that is approximately half that of genuine leather and is prone to fractures and splits.
However, genuine leather does require regular maintenance, so you must be sure to clean it if you spill something like perfume on it. It’s usually better to choose faux leather over a genuine high-quality leather jacket if you’re looking for an inexpensive jacket that you don’t have to maintain.
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