You have a home décor dilemma. You love the look and feel of leather, but you're not too keen on where the material comes from — or how much it can cost. But you really want an option with a similar look, but isn't actually made of animal skin.
You're in luck. While there a lot of leather knockoffs, there is an alternative that offers some of the benefits of the real thing: polyurethane (PU) leather.
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PU leather is artificial leather polymer made of polyurethane, which is a type of plastic. It's 100 percent vegan because it has no animal skin, unlike genuine leather. If you want to make sure no animals were harmed in the making of your products, just make sure what you buy has no leather mixed in, including bicast leather, which does have animal skin.
According to Dan Weller, founder of Philadelphia-based Liberty Leather Goods, there are two types of PU leather: full-synthetic and semi-synthetic (also known as 100 percent PU leather or split leather, respectively).
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Semi-synthetic PU leather is made of a natural leather base with a dried PU plastic mixture on top. The full-synthetic PU leather features a plastic coating applied over a base fabric material, which is usually more plastic or polyester. Only the full synthetic option is totally vegan. Weller says you can usually look at the underside of the material to see what the base material is.
"The PU layer is often stamped with a grain pattern to simulate the look of real leather," he says.
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One way to tell the difference between real leather and PU leather is to do a water test — meaning dab a few drops of water on the material. Genuine leather will absorb the water and PU leather will not.
You also can tell the difference by looking at the fabric and inspecting it well. Real leather will show some imperfections and feature a genuine grain, whereas PU leather will have an almost perfect, patterned look.
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PU leather is becoming more popular, especially as people become more conscious about sustainability and animal ethics. It's commonly used as upholstery — both residential and commercial — including on sofas, headboards, ottomans and in cars. It's also being used as a fashion alternative to leather for handbags, clothing and shoes.
PU versions tout the term "leather" — as do faux leather and vegan leather — but Weller says the name is mostly for marketing purposes.
"These are generally 100 percent plastic, and some vegan leather ... tend to be perceived as higher quality and more expensive, hence, companies can market and sell them for more," Weller explains. "Similarly, in auto upholstery, [some] 'leather' seats are actually just plastic, yet it sounds nicer, and then they can charge more for 'leather seats.'"
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Obviously, PU leather is not the real thing, so you won't spend as much money for it as you would on genuine leather. Weller says PU leather also is easier and faster to manufacture than the natural version. It's water resistant and easy to clean, as well. This does make PU leather ideal for use in places like kitchens and bars.
But there are some disadvantages of PU leather, too. For starters, it doesn't always look like the real thing, and it will never develop the soft, worn-down look of real leather. PU leather also is less flexible. That can cause cracking and tearing over time, which means a shorter life than you'd get with genuine leather. The color can fade, too, although you'll get more color options than what's available with real leather.
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"Over time, faux leather can dry out and crack and flake, resulting in items that can lose function, look worn and be challenging, if not impossible, to repair," Weller says.
And perhaps another reason it is called "PU" leather is that it doesn't always give off the best odor. Weller says it is dependent on the manufacturing process, and some will even infuse scents that mimic the smell of genuine leather to mask the faux leather "fragrance."
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Since PU leather is typically made from a plastic polymer, in some cases it can be recycled. And depending on the production process, Weller says it might be less chemical intensive than some natural leather processes and might use fewer resources to manufacture.
"In this more idealistic perspective, PU leather can be made cheaper and faster," he says. "In another context, it is made of plastic (petroleum products), which have negative environmental aspects from extraction and use in materials production."
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Sciencetrends.com says unlike real leather, polyurethane leather doesn't need to be tanned. Tanning is a process that can generate pollution from the ammonia and chromium used to make it, so that's a plus, too.
Now That's InterestingSynthetic leather has several names other than PU leather, including bicast leather, faux leather, leatherette, synthetic leather, artificial leather, skai and pleather.
Sometimes, it is difficult to determine the difference between real leather and leather-like materials while looking to buy leather products. This can be confusing for people who may be looking for genuine leather. Conversely, it’s beneficial for others who want to take the cheaper route and go with artificial leather.
There are many types of artificial leather, of which PU (polyurethane) leather is the most common type. PU leather is mainly used for upholstery in several industries, including transportation, healthcare, hospitality, and fashion.
This artificial leather fabric material, like leatherette, is made of thermoplastic polymer that’s most commonly used for furniture, car interiors, apparel, etc. Also, certain premium PU leather manufacturers provide higher grade fabrics for exquisite furniture and luxury car interiors that provide maximum durability and sheer comfort.
In this post, we will look at different aspects of PU leather along with its pros and cons.
One of the main qualities customers look for in a piece of furniture would be how it feels on their skin and fits their posture. While the furniture’s structural design solves the back and neck problems, the fabric quality plays a significant role in determining the level of comfort a piece has to offer. Such designs will require an advanced solution such as polyurethane fabrics that combine functional and aesthetic qualities while ensuring lasting strength and comfort.
Some manufacturers offer advanced features such as integrated ventilation systems that surpass customers’ expectations regarding comfort levels. Adequate air circulation undeniably reduces health issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle. It promotes better blood flow and enables you to use the furniture upholstered in this fabric for longer periods without any problems.
Furthermore, you can clean PU leather frequently without causing damage, which isn’t the case with real leather. We will discuss cleaning PU leather in detail shortly. This quality helps the user shield against bacterial problems and dead skin cell build-ups.
Collectively, these benefits translate to considerable economic benefits in the form of fewer medical expenses and lower maintenance costs.
Whether it’s leather or leatherette, both of them cater to several premium furniture applications generally associated with luxury and sophistication. Usually, these products serve customers with an appreciation for beautiful aesthetics. However, the fabric only retains its aesthetics when maintained well.
While leather can’t be washed, you can use certain practices once in a while to maintain its look and enjoy a long-lasting experience. However, maintaining actual leather can become more tedious than you would expect.
With PU leather, you could just go ahead and wash it like any plastic or synthetic fabric while being able to enjoy the same levels of luxury, aesthetics, and comfort. Today PU fabric materials are used and trusted by several branded office furniture suppliers such as Steelcase for this very reason.
Watching premium furniture blend in with amazing architecture or car interior provides a unique experience. However, making this beautiful combination work for years implies hefty repairs and maintenance costs.
Sometimes the only way to get an item to work like before is to replace parts or the whole unit. Good quality PU leather offers great comfort, matches the aesthetic requirements, and justifies its very purpose by lasting beyond your expectations.
Upholstered furniture items such as office chairs and car interiors are designed to meet long hours of usage. These items must have extended durability and a user-friendly design.
As a sophisticated fabric, PU leather offers supreme functionality without sacrificing style. In addition to style, it is easy to clean and almost as durable as real leather but with much lesser maintenance. It is a fabric solution that lets you be worry-free by saving considerable amounts of time and money in the long run.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of PU Artificial Leather. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.