There is a lot of people perplexed by the similarities that exist between faux and genuine leather. Owing to fewer differences and pros and cons., the decision ultimately comes down to personal choice and the insights you want to get from the material.
The durability of genuine leather makes it one of the most desired and aesthetically appealing materials available. It is considered a premium material because of its high demand and physical appeal. As a result, it is generally expensive because it is derived from animal skin, which is expensive.
Faux leather is also quite popular since many fashion designers utilize it as an alternative for their customers’ bags, clothing, and accessories because it is less expensive than genuine leather.
The materials used to produce faux leather are non-renewable and the processes used to make it are not eco-friendly. That is why the substitute for leather received a great deal of criticism.
Here we will discuss the significant pros and cons of both types of leather.
1: Physical Appearance and Texture
Faux leather is a substitute for genuine leather, but there are no—differences between the two. The production process of faux leather consists of a process in which polyurethane or polyvinyl material is laminating on the base material, often polyester, cotton, etc.
After that, a roller put up some grain patterns on the surface to create a look, resembles natural leather. This grain pattern is even and uniforms because of machine printing. Since faux leather is synthetic, it’s available in many dyes and prints, making it more appealing and producing a broad audience spectrum.
Opponent, the genuine leather is the product of animal hide so that their grain and texture patterns are as unique to each other as fingerprints. It possesses natural imperfections and blemishes that enhance the beauty of the product. The patina or lustre and softness that develop over time also causes enormous appeal for genuine leather.
The uniqueness of the patterns causes some time difficulty when someone is making products. It is often available in black, brown, and black shades.
2: Longevity
Genuine leather, as you know obtained from natural ways like its contents only the animal hides which are a cow, buffalo or oxen, etc., these animals are raised mainly for the purpose to get beef and milk bot only to get their hides.
So the animal hides could bear more wear and tear than any artificial material. The genuine leather could be long lasting for decades, and it developed patina with time, which makes it more valuable.
Faux leather is the product of artificial material. The grains of PVC or PU is applied on the base of cotton or polyester with the help of a roller machine. So it is not a breathable material that causes early crakes and britches. That is why the durability of faux leather is just a few years.
It also fades out very soon, which makes it less durable as compared to leather. In its manufacturing, some chemicals are used to give leathery order and to overcome the order of plastic, which become the cause of environmental hazards. That leads the widespread criticism toward faux leather.
3: Cleaning & Maintenance
Genuine leather is made from animal hide rather than synthetic material and so requires specific care to last. Keep leather dry and clean up spills promptly to minimize lasting damage.
Genuine leather should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid staining and premature ageing. You should keep in your mind that leather was once an animal’s skin. Leather, much like our skin, has to be moisturized and conditioned regularly to keep it protected and to look wonderful for years to come.
Whenever you carry your leather jacket or purse on a bright day, you are necessarily aware of the exposure of the sunlight with your leather accessories. Avoid storing leather in the sun or your car.
Faux leather is considerably easier to care for than real leather. Most synthetic leathers may be cleaned with simple soap and water. Water and bleach can be used to remove stubborn stains on synthetic leather. Because imitation leather is a synthetic material, UV rays won’t damage it; so you may leave it outside in the sun without worry.
Your synthetic leather handbag or jacket will keep you dry if it rains. After cleaning, rub certain imitation leathers with a tiny bit of polish on a clean, dry cloth.
Wrap up
If we conclude the whole discussion about faux vs. real leather, the selection depends upon personal choice. Faux leather is versatile, affordable, and useable for different purposes, while genuine leather is rather expensive and limited in variety.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)
1- What will be the quality of a faux leather purse?
Whenever it comes to quality, no synthetic leather can beat the real leather, but people often choose faux leather because It is affordable as well as available in a huge number of dyes and patterns.
2- Is faux leather long-lasting?
Faux leather is made of artificial material, so its durability is just a few years as compared to real leather, which durability is for decades with good care.