Leather
It is widely used in the production of shoes, garments, bags, belts, furniture, car upholstery, bindings and many others. It is obtained from the raw hide of animals after it has been processed. The skin of mammals such as sheep, pigs, cattle is most often used. Rabbit, fox, mink skins are also used, mainly in clothing. Some more extravagant manufacturers use skin from more exotic animals such as snakes, crocodiles and others for their customers.
Advantages
Natural leather is pleasant to the touch. It is often a symbol of prestige and luxury. Each piece of leather is unique in itself because no two animals are the same. And thanks to the intricately intertwined collagen fibers, the products produced from it are more durable over time. Another serious plus is easy cleaning. It is enough to wipe it regularly with a damp cloth to keep its appearance for a long time and to last, why not 10-12 years.
Natural leather is the best material, which protects very well from wind and low temperatures. As it breathes itself, it allows the feet to breathe as well. Therefore, it is a very good choice for shoes. A big advantage of genuine leather is that it gets softer over time. So it fits and creates maximum comfort for the feet.
Disadvantages
The first drawback that the customer notices is the price. Products made of natural leather are significantly more expensive than the same ones made of artificial leather. Unlike artificial leather, natural leather fades if it is systematically left in direct sunlight. It is also absorbent. Just a few drops of wetting are enough to soak into the fabric if not wiped off immediately. But the biggest disadvantage of natural leather is the way it is obtained.
ARTIFICIAL leather
It is made of several types of materials: polyester, cotton, nylon or viscose. It is obtained by chemically coating textiles with wax, polyurethane or paint. In this way, the appearance of natural leather is imitated. There are two main types of artificial leather: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC – “Vinyl”).
Advantages
The biggest advantage is that it looks very similar to natural leather, and at the same time, the price of artificial leather products is many times cheaper. Massively preferred by environmentalists because no animals are killed for its production. Artificial leather has a uniform texture and color because it is produced by machine. It does not fade easily, even in direct sunlight, and products can be produced in a much wider variety of colors and shades.
Artificial leather is ecological, elastic and flexible, and something very important – it does not absorb moisture. If you spill a liquid on a textile or leather sofa, it will be difficult to clean it. You may be able to soak up some of the liquid with a cloth, but even if you react quickly enough, you won't be able to clean everything properly. Unlike textiles, artificial leather is extremely resistant to liquids. The surface of the furniture will not quickly absorb wine, water or other liquids. Thus, in the event of an accident, you will be able to clean quickly without long-term damage to the artificial fabric.
Disadvantages
Faux leather is perishable. Products usually last a third of the time of the same ones made of genuine leather. Over time, artificial leather splits and peels, and thus the products become unusable. It doesn't have the same shine as the natural one and it doesn't smell like it. Most often it emits a smell of plastic or rubber. Another disadvantage is that it is more difficult to maintain. And although it does not absorb liquids like the natural one, it is desirable to avoid prolonged contact with moisture, because this leads to deformation. Another minus is the change in temperature. If there is a sudden change in artificial leather, cracks may appear. Depending on the material from which it is made, it can be easily flammable, and this is already a big and serious disadvantage.
How to tell them apart?
First of all, in appearance. If the pores and folds are the same in depth and symmetry, the skin is artificial. As with human skin, so with animal skin, the pores and folds are not uniform. A lack of symmetry is an indication that your product is genuine leather.
The next thing you should take a good look at is the color. Although you will not notice significant differences upon initial purchase, in general the color of natural leather is more sensitive. Therefore, when folding, you need more time to notice the colors of the folds of the natural leather. You can also check by pressure. With natural leather, pressure wrinkles disappear faster.
If possible, inspect the inside of your product. If there is no additional lining, the differences are easily seen. If the inside is textile, your product is synthetic leather. And vice versa - if the inside is fluffy or with suede hairs, if the seams have holes of different sizes, then the leather is natural.
Natural leather absorbs moisture. Sprinkle a few drops of water. If the water remains on the surface, then the skin is artificial. Another option is to try with a spitted finger, but it is not hygienic.
© 2023 Iliana Dechkova