Vegan leather and faux leather are the same thing – essentially a fake 'leather' material that does not use animal skin.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website.
There is a range of materials that can be used to make vegan leather
including synthetics like plastic and natural materials such as cork.
The most commonly used materials for synthetic leathers are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), which are plastic based materials. Another term for fake leather is “pleather” which comes from the term plastic leather.
These two commonly used synthetic materials in particular have raised questions about the safety and dangers of vegan leather to the environment. Very few vegan leathers are made from natural materials although it is possible to find more eco friendly products made from materials like cork (check out our new cork collection or learn more about cork here), kelp and even pineapple leaves.
Synthetic leather is produced with different chemicals and a totally different industrial process to real leather. Bonding together a plastic coating to a fabric backing is the most common way to make faux leather; the types of plastic used in these coatings vary and this is what defines whether or not it is eco friendly.
Although PVC is in much less use than it was in the ’s and 70’s, it can still be found in the composition of some vegan leather. PVC releases dioxins, which are potentially dangerous in confined spaces and especially dangerous if burnt. It also uses plasticisers such as phthalates to make it flexible. Depending on the type of phthalate used, they’re extremely toxic. It has been described by Greenpeace as the “single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”.
The more modern and slightly less damaging plastic is PU, which is constantly being technically developed to reduce its flaws such as the hazardous toxins it releases during manufacturing and the oil based polymers it’s made with which make use of fossil fuels.
Vegan/Faux leather that is made with PVC or PU often has a very strange smell from the chemicals. It’s often described as a 'fishy' smell and can often be very hard to get rid especially while trying not to ruin the material. PVC can also outgas dangerous toxins that give off this nasty smell.
Vegan leather comes in several different forms and qualities, so some are more 'leather-like' than others. Generally speaking, and focusing on good quality vegan leather, there isn’t that much difference to real leather. However, as vegan leather is synthetic, it doesn’t form a patina like real leather does when ageing and it is much less breathable as the pores that are printed onto the surface of pleather are artificial.
The main concern for most people when deciding between vegan and real leather is the impact it has on animals and the environment. However, whilst the term vegan leather might imply an environmentally friendly product, this is not always the case.
Faux leather is known as vegan leather because the material used is never from animal skins but although this is a huge benefit for animal activists, the manufacture of synthetic leather is not beneficial to the environment or humans due to the toxins in the plastics used to make them. The manufacture and disposal of PVC-based synthetics let out hazardous dioxins, which can cause developmental and reproductive issues and even cause cancer. The synthetics used in vegan leathers also don’t fully biodegrade, although they can be broken down to a degree, they can also release toxic particles and phthalates, which can affect the health of animals and the environment.
Quality and durability are also important things to consider when comparing vegan and real leather. Vegan leather is often a lot thinner than real leather and much more light weight which is great for fashion as it makes it potentially easier to work with, however it also makes it less durable than real leather. A real, good quality leather can last decades when cared for, whereas you might only get a year or so out of a pair of shoes made from good quality faux leather. This is an important factor when deciding between fake leather and real leather as the environmental impact of replacing a fake leather product multiple times is arguably more damaging than the purchase of one real leather item.
Synthetic leathers also wear out very unattractively whereas real leather ages over time and forms a patina, which is considered to add character to leather.
Faux leather, especially PVC based, isn’t breathable either where as real leather has pores through which skin is able to breathe. So for clothing items such as jackets, vegan leather can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time.
In addition to environmental factors, faux leather is typically a lot cheaper than real leather products. This is because it’s cheaper to produce synthetic plastic leather than it is to produce real leather. The craftsmanship of leather products is a highly skilled job and bespoke leather products such as sofas, jackets and luggage can be thousands of dollars. Manufacturers are able to command these prices because they are considered both high quality and highly durable.
As vegan leather is made with a plastic coating, it is already waterproof. This makes it easier to clean by using a mild detergent or just by wiping it with a damp cloth, however it also means that conditioning products can’t penetrate it to stop it from drying up and cracking, which can happen if the fake leather is in the sun a lot and also if it’s a particularly poor quality material. However, you can get certain products, which will cover the surface of the plastic to prevent high temperatures and sun rays from cracking the surface. Such products can also help to soften the material.
You can replace or patch up the damaged area with a faux leather repair kit that can be bought online - they’re easy to use and suited to different types of faux leather.
Vegan leather can come in different standards of quality and as with real leather, the higher the quality, the longer it will last. Faux leather is generally a lot cheaper and of a lower quality to real leather, even at a high standard. Vegan leather is ultimately much less durable than real leather and tends to be thinner so it’s not uncommon for it to tear or scuff badly over time.
It is important that you do not try to iron wrinkled vegan leather by putting the iron directly onto the material. The method you should use to remove wrinkles depends on the quality of the material – because synthetic 'pleathers' have plastic in them, they do not mix well with heat and it can often ruin the product completely. High quality faux leathers can be steamed to remove wrinkles if protected with a sheet, towel or lining as they are much more forgiving against heat however there still should be a lot of care taken when doing this. It is important that you don’t heat your fake leather for more than 30 seconds.
Method:1. Wash the item in your washing machine on warm to clean off the article and prevent any contamination from 'baking' into the plastic material of the pleather.
2. Put the polyurethane item into an old pillowcase and tie off the top with a shoelace or piece of string to prevent it from falling out. Materials like this may get hot enough to stick to the dryer’s drum, damaging the jacket and making a mess, so avoid this happening at all costs.
3. Set the dryer on high. Let the cycle go for about an hour. Allow the jacket to cool off and then test fit it. Repeat the cycle as needed, using progressively shorter drying times until satisfied.
Faux leather does stretch, but not as much as real leather. You need to be careful when trying to stretch fake leather because it increases the risk of it cracking, so it’s best to avoid it all together.
Trying to distress faux leather will more often than not result in damaging the item. Most people tend to create a distressed affect on faux leather using thin layers of acrylic/fabric paints – thick layers can result in the vegan leather cracking and peeling the top layer entirely. Be sure to use paints/dyes suitable for the material, as solvents often eat away at pleather.
Remember to test the paint on a small inconspicuous area of the product first before applying all over.
Faux leather is not as permeable as real leather, which means the material cannot easily absorb coloured dye. Therefore, even after dyeing your faux leather product you should be aware that the process will most likely need to be repeated throughout the products life span as the colour wears off over time.
CHENGLIDA Product Page
Method: 1. Prepare the pleather surface by wiping it down with a clean cloth to remove any dust or dirt particles. For a thorough clean, it’s recommended to wipe the product down with pure alcohol.
2. Once clean and dry your vegan leather product is ready to be dyed with upholstery paint. Please see the instructions on the paint product for the recommended drying time.
Remember to test the paint on a small inconspicuous area of the product first before applying all over.
Leather jackets, apparel, and accessories are luxurious, well-crafted and, of course, expensive. So when you decide to invest in genuine leather it is important that you avoid the faux pas of purchasing faux leather at a premium price because leather cleaner and conditioner won't always work on fake leather. Not sure how to tell the difference between fake leather and real leather? Check out our guide below.
Many genuine leather products include a label indicating that the product is genuine leather. Manufacturers are eager to show that their products are the real deal so the label should be easy to spot. If the label says, “man-made materials” or if the product has no label, you are right to assume that it is not real leather. If relying on a label alone is too risky for you, the rest of the tips can help you determine how real it really is.
You might feel funny standing in the aisle of a store taking a whiff of a leather handbag, but the smell of the product is a big indicator of it being genuine leather.
Real leather has a distinct smell that cannot be replicated by synthetic, fake leather. Practice with some products you know are real so you can become familiar with the distinctive smell of genuine leather.
Real leather can feel coarse or smooth, depending on the quality and type. If the product feels too smooth or feels like plastic, it is likely fake. Real leather is also generally less consistent in texture because it is natural and harder to regulate.
The edges of the leather apparel or furniture are also a good indicator of its authenticity. Fake leather will have a perfect, smooth edge that feels a little like plastic whereas genuine leather has a more natural, rough edge.
Finally, when determining if a piece is fake leather or real be sure to check the pores of the leather. Just as before, if it seems too perfect it is probably too good to be true. Real leather has an inconsistent pattern of pores because it is natural. In contrast, manufactured leather has a consistent, repeating pattern.
To further your skills at identifying faux vs. real leather spend time comparing leathers that you know are fake with ones you know are genuine. With practice you will be able to see if the piece you are shopping for is the real deal and worth the cost. In the end, you'll save yourself a lot of money and trouble when it comes to caring for leather when you learn to identify real vs. fake leather.
Some common questions people have about the differences between real leather and fake leather.
How can you tell real leather from fake leather?
You can tell real leather from fake leather by examining the texture and reading the label.
What lasts longer, real or fake leather?
Real leather lasts longer than fake leather. That's especially true if you use regularly clean and condition it.
What's the difference between faux leather and artificial leather?
There is no difference between faux leather and artificial leather. They are the same thing with different names.
Are you interested in learning more about Artificial Leather for Apparel? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!