If you've ever shopped for leather products, there's a good chance you've come across faux leather items. Faux leather is an umbrella term for any leather that contains zero animal skin. So you've likely seen faux leather labeled as synthetic leather, vegan leather, artificial leather, pleather and more. Like with any purchase, it's always a good idea to know as much about the product before spending your hard-earned cash on it. That's where we come in. Here's everything you should know about faux leather.
What Makes Faux Leather Faux
Given that faux leather doesn't contain any animal products, you're probably wondering what faux leather is made of. Well, there are two main types of faux leather: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC/vinyl). PU and vinyl have slightly different makeups and therefore are better suited for different leather items. PU faux leather is generally softer, so it is often used to make leather coats, boots and purses. Vinyl faux leather is stiffer and thicker, so it is used more for things like coverings, car seats and more.
Vegan Leather vs Faux Leather
Vegan leather might sound unique, but it really isn't. Simply put, there's no difference between vegan leather and faux leather. Vegan leather is just a buzzy phrase used by marketing teams to sell you faux leather products. If a product is faux leather, it is also "vegan," because it contains no animal products.
Benefits of Faux Leather
Just because faux leather is technically "fake," doesn't mean it's bad. Faux leather has a few advantages over genuine leather products. Let's take a look:
- Durability. Faux leather tends to be more durable than genuine leather. Its color won't fade and it doesn't scratch easily.
- Appearance. Faux leather is made to look the same all over. That's quite different than genuine leather, which has imperfections and a non-uniform appearance.
- Affordable. Faux leather products are cheaper to manufacture than genuine leather products, so they are almost always more affordable.
- Easy to maintain. Faux leather is easy to maintain. You can simply wipe it down with some Leather Honey Leather Cleaner and be on your way. There's no need to condition it with Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
Drawbacks of Faux Leather
Faux leather is great in its own way, but there are some downsides:
- Appearance. One of the best things about genuine leather is that it changes its appearance over time, gradually developing a rich, unique patina. Faux leather will never change the way it looks.
- Feel. Faux leather is not soft and stretchy like real leather.
- Odor. Some faux leather products give off an abnormal, artificial leather odor. Meanwhile, genuine leather offers a subtle, natural scent.
More to Know About Faux Leather
Some common questions people have about faux leather products.
What is faux leather made out of?
Faux leather is made out of either polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC/vinyl). Essentially, plastics.
Is faux leather good quality?
Faux leather being good quality depends on you. What type of leather are you looking for? If you want an affordable, durable leather item, then faux leather good be it. If you want a natural, unique leather product, you'd likely go for genuine leather.
Does faux leather mean fake?
Yes, faux leather is fake, as it contains no animal products.
