Leather has come a long way from just being a protective wear to a fashion wear. The use of leather has increased to such an extent that it is used as a fabric for clothing, upholstery or to make leather goods. However, the increasing need and cost of genuine leather and awareness of animal cruelty laws has prompted people in leather industry to look for an alternative as artificial leather similar to real leather in most aspects.
Synthetic leather fabric is one such option which has been accepted and used by many as a substitute for original leather. Not only is this alternative cost effective but also animal friendly too. More importantly, faux leather or synthetic leather is similar to genuine leather in almost all aspects. There are different kinds of synthetic leather. However, there are some differences between synthetic leather and real leather.
What is Synthetic Leather?
The name, synthetic leather, itself tells a lot about the material. Synthetic or faux leather is artificial leather. This means animal skins are not used to make it. Although it is animal skin free, it offers the benefits of genuine leather. Other names of synthetic leather are artificial leather, faux leather, imitation leather, blended leather, etc. In other words although the names differ, the look and feel are the same. More importantly synthetic leather undergoes a lot of processes to get the look and feel of original leather. Hence, any time it is a good buy and worth for money.
Types of Synthetic Leather
Given below are some of the most common synthetic leather types and its preparation techniques:
Plastic Leather
Synthetic leather which is made from plastic has a coat of plastic over it which gives it a glossy appearance. Also interestingly, plastic leather is more durable than genuine leather and they don’t worn out or fade with time. Furthermore they are quite strong and durable. This is one of the reasons why it is most widely used type of synthetic leather. However, it is not very skin friendly and cannot be washed easily or dry cleaned, making it less suitable option for use.
Poromeric Leather
The preparation of poromeric leather is similar to plastic leather. It uses a mix of different synthetic fabrics that carries same look and feel like genuine leather. To make it, a layer of polyurethane is coated over a layer of a polyester fabric. This offers porous, lustrous sheen to it and makes it durable. Just like real leather, it is a breathable fabric. Hence other items like boots, purse, etc, are made from it.
Leatherette
Leatherette is a type of synthetic leather which uses both plastic and fabric. Some of the advantages of this leather are as follows:
Strong and requires little or no maintenance
Does not fade easily as compared to real leather
Durable
Some of the downsides of this leather are:
- They are not porous and hence no air can pass through it
- Unfit for use in clothing
- May harm skin
Where do synthetic materials find its use?
- Used in cars
- For book binding and in cameras
- For upholstery, clothing, bags, and other goods
Declan Charlotte is one of the many authors on LeatherFads.com. He writes articles related to leather pants & leather jackets online. he has been in the field of writing since years now. If you want to know more about his and his articles then LeatherFads.com is the right place.
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