Real Leather vs Faux Leather

Leather items are very popular across the globe. They’re an investment that adds to your comfort and style. Genuine leather is sourced from animal skin and therefore comes with a hefty price tag. However, several accessories, clothing, and bag companies prefer an alternative material, called ‘faux leather, for their products. This type of imitation leather is also known as 'polyurethane' or 'leatherette'. It's not real leather, and its production process is known to cause damage to the environment. However, since it is more affordable and cheaply available, it has become a popular alternative to natural leather. If you’re looking to buy a leather product soon, which of these alternatives should you pick? Let us find out the pros and cons of both, real leather and faux leather.

Appearance

One would imagine that the synthetic nature of faux leather would limit its appeal and versatility. However, that is far from the truth. Faux leather is, in fact,  available in a wide range of finishing patterns, and colors than natural leather. The shine is artificially enhanced and hence, very visually appealing. However, the natural color and aroma of real leather, are simply indistinguishable. The rustic finish and the sheer rigid flexibility of real leather can give the product a finishing that leaves everyone in awe of it. Also, if looked after properly, real leather can maintain its sheen for a far longer period than lesser-quality faux leather.

Price

Real leather items are always much more expensive than faux leather items. Jackets, cowboy boots, sofas, wallets, belts, trench coats, and several other products made out of pure leather have a supreme look and feel about them. This is because the entire process of molding, carving, stitching, and other techniques employed to assemble real leather accessories, requires superior technical skills and machinery. The cost is further elevated as a result of greater packaging, storage, and transport practices.  This doesn’t change the fact that you could always run into vibrant and flashier faux leather products at stores. But leather isn’t really about the in-your-face sass though, is it?

Texture

The most important quality of a leather jacket or any leather product is the feel of leather. Most people love the touch of a leather product. The natural pigmentation on leather causes a protective layer to form on top, giving leather products a natural aura and smoothly chafed finish. Another telling difference is the back of real leather. If you love wearing leather jackets, you must've noticed the most obvious difference. The back of faux leather is smooth while that of real leather feels considerably rough. No alternative form of leather can match the authentic feel of real leather.

Durability

While a lot can be said about the durability of a leather product, it comes down to the usage of an individual. That being said, it is a well-known fact that humans have used leather products since time immemorial. Leather sheaths, armors, and satchels were used by emperors and soldiers alike, and many of these products are still well preserved in several museums across the world. This does not discredit the fact that several types of faux leather products are fairly durable and lasting. They’re man-made and meant to endure a certain amount of wear and tear too.  One way to tell the two products apart is to examine the pores closely. Faux leather will always have rather consistent pores, while real leather will showcase inconsistent pores. Faux leather items are assembly-line items and there is no individuality to them. On the other hand, every real leather item is unique because they are made from animal hide and no two are the same.

Quality

It all comes down to the overall quality of the product. Real leather items comprise natural materials and it shows. They are sturdy, yet flexible and quite breathable. Faux leather, on the other hand, is far more rigid and hardened. It is commonly observed that real leather tends to smoothen over time and become more breathable and comfortable, just like any other fabric. This is a characteristic that leather alternatives can never replicate.

 At the end of the day, picking the right choice of leather depends on your personal choice. If you fancy something sassy for the short-term, faux leather jackets and items aren't a bad bet. If you're in for the long haul, real leather jackets and items, with the right amount of care, have the potential to last a lifetime. And if you fancy the best, you'll find one at ShopperFiesta.