Handbags made of genuine leather are very popular today (as always). For decades, they have been at the top of the list because leather always looks stylish, expensive, and, in addition, has good wear resistance and durability. However, in recent years, leatherette has also become in demand, because the cost of products made from it is significantly lower, and in appearance today such bags are practically not inferior to natural ones.
But if you intend to buy an accessory made of genuine leather
, you don’t want to get into trouble and make a mistake in your choice. Today we will try to figure out together how to distinguish a bag made of genuine leather from an artificial one and what methods may not work.
We went through fire and water
Attention! Do not conduct the following experiments in stores and markets. Genuine leather is not afraid of fire. If you set it on fire, no fire should occur. The leatherette will begin to melt as soon as it encounters a bright flame. Also, genuine leather absorbs moisture, but artificial leather does not. But there is one exception - manufacturers sometimes treat natural leather with aniline coating. And in this case, there will be a fire, but the water will not be absorbed. But this does not mean that the material is artificial.
Check in store
If you are just planning a purchase, there are several ways to check leather for naturalness in a store.
Marking
If you look at the icon on the label, you can tell whether you are looking at genuine leather or pressed leather. On the reverse side there is a tag on which the composition is written.
To understand how to check whether leather is genuine or not, you need to know the meaning of the symbols. If a skin is drawn, then the skin is real. If there is a diamond on the skin, it means the leather is natural, but with defects. That is, it has a polyurethane coating. The lattice indicates that the product is made of textiles. Only the diamond is a product made of pressed leather.
Price
The differences between genuine leather and leatherette also lie in the cost of the material. Natural fabric is more expensive. This is due to the costs of extracting the material and processing it.
The price may vary depending on the type of skin. Pork is considered the cheapest. Cow or cowhide leather belongs to the middle price category. Sheep, crocodile, ostrich and snake linen are expensive.
Elasticity and color directions
To understand how to distinguish pressed leather from natural leather, you can touch it. Natural materials are soft and silky. They retain heat for a long time. If you touch them with your hand, they will heat up quickly. Synthetics will take a long time to heat up and will not retain heat. Genuine leather is elastic. It may stretch, but recovers quickly. The substitute stretches evenly, but the natural one does not stretch equally.
When bent, materials behave differently. Natural fabric, when bent, becomes covered with small wrinkles. If you smooth the surface, they will disappear. In leatherette, wrinkles are not immediately smoothed out. If you bend it for a long time, the defects will intensify and turn into cracks.
If you stretch or bend the original leather, it will change color. Artificial materials do not have such properties.
Coating
Examine the texture in the shoes you are going to buy. If pores are visible and they are located symmetrically, then this means that this is a fake. Intact natural leather is a coating characterized by asymmetric porosity, with a small number of fine wrinkles.
You can hold a small piece of material in your palm. If the moisture is absorbed and the fabric becomes warmer, it means it is natural. Faux leather will repel sweat.
There are several types of genuine leather for shoes and clothing, with certain differences:
- Nappa. The material is soft (despite the cattle source), elastic, and has a uniform color. It is considered one of the most affordable and durable types. You will often see this reference to composition leather in a product, meaning that it is genuine but residual leather.
- Morocco - goat skin. It goes through several stages of processing, including tanning, light burning and dyeing with bright shades. Multifunctional use - for shoes and book bindings.
- Velours. This variety is chrome tanned leather. It is finished like velvet using sanding technology.
- Chamois is the skin of small cattle. It is characterized by thick pile, in which there is no shine. Thanks to its softness, it is extremely popular, because it is also very pleasant to the touch.
- Shagreen or dulbfas leather. Sheep and goat skins. It has a beautiful small pattern with a relief texture.
- Laika. This is the finish that is obtained through the tanning process. The basis is taken from goat, dog and sheep skins. The fabric is thin and soft. Thanks to its softness, it perfectly warms women's hands, because it is often used for gloves.
- Nubuck. It has a fleecy surface, velvety and soft. Calf skin is used as a basis.
- Patent leather. The finish is coated with a special varnish. Suitable for products worn at temperatures from -10° to +25°C. Used in the production of accessories and shoes (ballet shoes, wallets, etc.).
Along the wrong side and cut edge
This side in natural form has a fleecy surface. If it is fabric, then the product is made of leatherette. The difference between natural fabric and synthetics is that the originals are thicker. Their cut edge is rough. The cutting areas of analogues are more even and smooth.
If you look at a cut of the original fabric, the interweaving of fibers will be visible. Leatherette consists of canvases that are soldered together. Sometimes it is not possible to inspect the cut because its ends are sewn together.
According to the pattern and location of the pores
How to identify genuine leather by its pattern and pores? Look at the creases, the location of the pores and their depth. Outwardly, it may seem that the original and the analogue are identical. But if you look closely, you can notice small differences. Only professionals can do this. The canvases are characterized by similar texture, relief and bruising. Manufacturers involved in the production of leatherette are able to create an imitation of suede texture on the underside of the fabric.
If you carefully examine the texture, it is possible to find differences in materials. Faux leather has the same pores. Natural material is characterized by a random arrangement of inconspicuous pores.
Smell and weight
The differences between the materials are the smell. Genuine leather has a noble aroma, while analogues have a chemical smell. Original fabrics absorb the aromas that are processed. These can be natural dyes and vinyl. However, you should not rely on smell alone. Manufacturers can imitate the smell of genuine leather.
Natural fabrics are heavier. It all depends on the raw materials. The skin of a goat is light in weight, while the skin of an ox is the heaviest.
How to quickly check leather for authenticity
Before you make a purchase, make sure that it is not a fake. To do this, use the following tricks:
- Press the material, genuine leather is elastic and soft to the touch. After pressing, it should quickly return to its original state without causing dents.
- Stretch the product a little; you should not feel the “rubber” effect in your hands. But genuine leather quickly returns to its original state.
- Carefully inspect the cut site. Natural material is thicker than artificial. If you notice intertwined fibers, then rest assured that this is leather. The fabric base indicates a fake.
- Place your palm on the surface of the material for a few seconds. Genuine leather will quickly heat up and absorb moisture. The artificial leather will leave a cooling sensation in the palm of your hand. The substitute does not accept moisture.
- A quality product is confirmed by a small sample of the material. Usually, for genuine leather, a figured pattern is cut out. For artificial fakes, a piece of leatherette can be in the form of a regular diamond. The edge of the cut should have a raw appearance, while the substitute has a smooth cut in appearance.
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Application
Material used:
- when sewing clothes : skirts, trousers, vests, leggings, dresses, windbreakers, raincoats, jackets;
- in the production of footwear : sandals, shoes, boots;
- for upholstery of furniture : sofas, armchairs, stools, kitchen corners, banquettes, ottomans;
- when creating accessories and haberdashery : gloves, bags, clutches, wallets, backpacks, belts;
- for sewing car seat covers.
Customer Reviews
Buyers note the amazing similarity of the material to genuine leather, both in appearance and quality. The fabric is chosen for its softness, elasticity, and environmental friendliness. Reviews confirm the durability of eco-leather: with careful care, things do not lose their appearance and functionality for several years.
Eco-leather is a high-quality replacement for genuine leather, similar in texture and appearance. The optimal combination of price and quality, a wide range for every taste allow the fabric to firmly hold its leading position among artificial materials.
What is pressed leather and how does it differ from genuine leather?
Let’s immediately make a reservation that pressed leather, in fact, does not exist. This is the same leatherette
.
Only during production is part of the leather waste - trimmings, shavings or leather dust - mixed into its synthetic composition. Then everything is crushed, mixed, heated and pressed. When heated, synthetic fibers melt, gluing the material. The result is a fairly cheap material with low air and moisture permeability
.
Yes, this material is suitable for the production of bags, wallets or belts, but shoes made from it are rigid and inelastic
, which is harmful to the foot.
The main problem with pressed leather is its fragility; such products are short-lived: straps and fasteners crack at the folds
.
Story
Scientists have long been looking for a way to create matter identical to natural leather. Many versions of leatherette were developed, but all of them were inferior to natural material in many characteristics: they smelled unpleasant, did not allow air to pass through, cracked at low temperatures, and were rough to the touch. Most importantly, they contained stabilizers and plasticizers harmful to human health.
Eco-leather first appeared in the USA in 1964. A year later, scientists from Japan were able to achieve success in development. The material quickly gained worldwide popularity due to its environmentally friendly composition and positive quality characteristics.
