Credit: walterychina.com
There are many types of leather products that you find in the market! Ever thought which one is real or synthetic? This has a lot to do a lot with the texture, quality, and durability of the product you are using! So, if you are confused regarding which type of leather is good and which one you must buy, then you have come to the right place! In this article, we will tell you everything about the synthetic form of leather, also known as the PU leather or the Faux leather. We will see how it is different from the real leather and how you can differentiate between the two! So let’s dive in and learn everything about it!
What is PU Leather?
Credit: haxford.com
PU leather, also known as the Faux leather, is a synthetic form of leather that is made from polyurethane. Now you must be wondering what polyurethane is? If explained in the simplest words, polyurethane is a type of plastic that has the texture and feel similar to the real leather but it does not involve the animals! You can also consider PU leather to be vegan!
How is PU Leather created?
Usually, the PU leather is made using the plastic polyurethane as a cover on the fiber base made usually from polyester. Sometimes, the PU leather is also combined with the real leather to make the double cast leather. In this case, the base is made with the real leather which is then covered by the PU layer or PVC for later use.
Differences between Real, Bonded, and PU Leather
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Real leather is basically the full-grain leather that is made from the animal hide. It is very thick and durable and the most genuine form of leather.
The bonded leather is created from the leftover scraps and fibers collected after the manufacture of genuine leather. These are then mixed with the polyurethane binder and rolled together to give the texture of the real or genuine leather. The bonded leather is usually composed of around 10-20% real leather.
The PU leather or the Faux leather, as explained, is made artificially from a thermoplastic polymer. A polyurethane layer is added on the top to give it a texture of real leather.
Benefits of the PU Leather
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Now you must be wondering why use the PU Leather when the real leather is available in the market? So here is the answer to it!
- PU Leather is very durable and flexible
These two considerations are very important while purchasing a product. Due to the extreme durability and flexibility of the PU leather, it is not only used to make the furniture items but also the apparel. In recent years, the PU leather has gained a lot of attention in various leather clothing due to its lightweight and durable texture.
- PU Leather is waterproof
As the PU leather is waterproof, it can be used to make a variety of outdoor clothing and items without any worry of damage when exposed to water or moisture.
- It is less expensive
PU Leather gives you the same kind of feels at a much lesser price. What else would you want if you get the same look at a considerably cheaper price?!
- Easy to clean
The maintenance of PU leather does not require too much of your time and effort. You can clean it easily with a damp cloth.
- It is resistant to the UV rays
The color of PU leather does not fade away when exposed to the UV rays, so it is best used to make outdoor wear.
How to differentiate between the Real Leather and the PU Leather?
Credit: steelhorseleather.com
As mentioned earlier as well, the PU Leather imitates the real or genuine leather in the texture and feel. So the question arises: how can you differentiate between them? Here’s the answer to it.
- Texture, feel, and smell
Generally, if you look at the PU leather, you cannot tell if it is not real! However, if you look closely, you can easily differentiate between the two! The PU leather is usually a bit more shiny and smooth than the real leather and it does look somewhat synthetic. It is much lighter in weight as well, compared to the real leather.
Another major difference between the real leather and the PU leather is that although the PU leather retains its color over a period of time, the composition began to change gradually! It will begin to crease and crack within a few years, which does not happen if the leather is real!
Also, you can smell plastic from the PU leather, especially the cheaper ones, whereas the real leather smells different.
- Water resistance
As discussed, the PU leather is waterproof so you can look for the water-resistant properties to find out of the leather is real. The real leather usually absorbs the water while the PU leather does not.
- Durability
Although the PU leather is durable, it will be worn off in a couple of years. However, the real leather lasts much longer and you can use it for at least 10- 20 years.
- Maintenance required
The PU leather is much easier to use as it is machine washable so you can easily wash it with water anytime you want. On the other hand, the maintenance of real leather requires quite much more effort. You do not have to let it get too dry and it must be polished from time to time to maintain the shine and look of the leather. This short video tells exactly how you must maintain a leather jacket.
Conclusion
PU leather is becoming much popular now due to its low cost and easy maintenance. It has almost replaced the real or genuine leather. Nowadays, most of the leather jackets and outdoor wears you find in the market are made from the PU leather, which is easy to carry around due to its lightweight and durable texture. This has become a new common now, and you must try it too! At sensationallyfabulous, we have a wide collection of leather jackets that you must explore for a classy, unique, and fabulous outlook! So what are you waiting for? Start shopping already!
