Faux leather is a type of leather produced from raw materials called polyurethane (PU) with polyvinyl chloride, known as PVC. It is also called synthetic or Faux leather. Faux leather is used in most of the textile industry as an alternative to genuine leather. Real leather; It is obtained from the skins of animals such as calves, goats and sheep. Faux leather is obtained by various processes of chemical raw materials.
The high cost of real leather in today's conditions has brought Faux leather to the forefront in the sector. On the other hand, the fact that real leather is obtained from animals has led people who are sensitive about animal rights and the sector to Faux leather. The spread of Faux leather has brought diversification with it.
What are the Types of Faux Leather?
Compared to real leather, there are more types of Faux leather. Since certain animal skins are used in real leather, the color alternative is more limited. With the development of Faux leather processing, more colorful and diverse products are made. It is possible to find Faux leather bags, shoes and jackets in various colors and patterns on the market. Real leather is also predominantly black and brown. In Faux leather production, there are different colors besides brown and black Faux leather.
Why is Faux Leather Made?
With the development of technology and the advancement of the textile industry, Faux leather has become a serious alternative to real leather. Faux leather is obtained by using various chemicals instead of natural raw materials like real leather. The raw material of Faux leather is polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Materials such as leather residue, primrose and paper-like things, cotton weaving, vegetable fibers are thinned by various chemical processes. Then, the leather-like appearance is given by the press method. As a top coating, polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride is preferred.
What are the Features of Faux Leather?
The use of Faux leather stands out in many sectors such as clothing, accessories, home furnishing, automotive sector. In all areas of life, people use products made of Faux leather with or without realizing it. The properties of Faux leather used in many areas are also varied. Thin or thick Faux leathers are produced in different colors . Faux leather is similar to real leather due to the pressures and processes it sees.
It has a soft structure due to the chemicals in its content. It is smooth and smooth to the touch. It is water resistant due to the synthetic fabric on its surface. It does not have stain arresting feature. Since it does not have an absorbent structure, it is easy to clean even if it is stained. Resistant to cuts and deformation.
Faux leather is cheap in cost. Chemical raw materials are preferred instead of natural raw materials obtained from animals. Therefore, animal lovers prefer Faux leather. On the other hand, it takes many years for plastic and various other chemicals to dissolve in nature. For this reason, environmental activists oppose Faux leathers made of hard-to-solve plastic.
What is Pu Leather?
Production is carried out in two categories in Faux leather production. One of them is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the other is polyurethane (PU) coated Faux leather. The leather, which is called PU leather for short, is produced from polyurethane raw material. Compared to PVC, PU leather is more expensive but has a higher quality structure. PU leathers are more preferred due to their properties close to real leather. Being breathable and ecological like real leather, soft structure and appearance make PU leather attractive.
PU coated faux leather; It is preferred in home upholstery, automotive, shoemaking, clothing sector and accessory production such as bag belts.
What is Vegan Leather?
The durable and breathable properties of real leather have made it preferred by people for thousands of years. However, the fact that the material of real leather is obtained directly from animals has changed the preference of people with animal sensitivities. This is where vegan leather comes into play.
Vegan leather and Faux leather are basically similar to each other. Neither uses animals as raw materials. The appearance of vegan leather is similar to real leather. Plant-based materials are used instead of animals as raw materials. While PU or PVC coating is used in Faux leather, biodegradable herbal products are used in vegan leather production. Herbal materials such as pineapple leaves, moss, apple peel, cactus, grapes, mushrooms are among the products used. Thus, both animal and environmentally friendly products are made with vegan leather.
Does Faux Leather Pass Water?
Faux leather is produced by processing and thinning various materials. Then plastic coating is applied on it. It has a waterproof feature due to this plastic coating on it. The fact that the real skin is porous facilitates the absorption of water. However, Faux leather is water resistant due to its airless structure. Especially in shoe making , the Faux leather used in the upper layer called saya prevents water passage.
How to Clean Faux Leather?
Cleaning Faux leather is not as troublesome as real leather. It is also easy to clean due to the plastic coating on it. This coating does not absorb water and is not prone to stain formation. Faux leather is not suitable for dry cleaning. Cleaners with bleach and alcohol content should not be used to avoid deterioration in the coating or color on it.
Soaps with natural ingredients should be used as a cleanser. It can be easily cleaned with cotton cloth or sponges so that it does not remain watery. It should not be dried in direct sunlight, under spotlight or at high heat.
How to Remove Stains from Faux Skin?
Although Faux leather does not stain as much as real leather, it may still sometimes be exposed to staining. When fluid substances such as water or oil are poured, the first thing to do is to absorb the stained area with the help of a napkin and cotton cloth without spreading it on the surface. Then the contaminated area should be wiped with a natural soapy cloth in a circular motion so as not to leave it wet.
Chemical ingredients containing bleach, alcohol or bleach should not be used to remove the stain. This can make the leather unusable.
What is the Difference Between Faux Leather and Real Leather?
The real and Faux leather market produces products used in many areas of life. The differences between Faux and real leather, which have started to be used in many sectors, are as follows:
· While the cost of processing real leather is more expensive; the cost of Faux leather processing is cheaper.
· While real leather is healthier due to its breathable and moisture-absorbing properties; Faux leather coating is seen as more unhealthy due to its lack of breathability properties.
· Since real leather is made using animal skins, it has a unique smell and rough texture; Faux leather has a smooth and Faux texture and smell.
· Although there is not much color alternative due to the animal skins used in real leather; Faux leather can also be more colored.
· Real leather is more durable and long-lasting due to its structure; Faux leather is more durable and shorter-lived.
· While real leather has stain retention and sensitivity to water; Faux leather is more resistant to water and stain-repellent.
· The care and cleaning of real leather is more troublesome than Faux leather.
Why Peel Faux Leather?
Real leather can be used for many years when it is cared for correctly and regularly. Faux leather does not have a structure as durable as real leather. For this reason, it is deformed over time and peeling is observed. When the necessary care is not taken to products such as jackets, bags and shoes produced with Faux leather, it is inevitable that peeling will occur. For Faux leather repair where peeling occurs , it is best to go to leather masters.