which is better synthetic leather or genuine leather?
When one has to choose between real leather and faux leather for any of their projects like clothing, shoes, sofas, etc. they usually know only one difference upfront and that is price. Almost everybody knows that there’s a significant difference between real leather products and their faux leather counterparts. Real leather goods are normally much pricier than those made of faux leather.
But sadly that’s the only difference they know, they often don’t compare the quality and status they get with the real leather which can easily justify its hefty price tag. There are other intangible features of real leather like its luxury, timelessness, and feel that don’t come with faux leather. We will discuss all of them later in this article.
Of course, both real leather and faux leather have their fair share of pros and cons. After reading this article you will have a greater insight into real and faux leather and you will be in a better position to choose between one according to your needs. We will start with real leather, so let’s dive into it.
Table of Contents
Real leather: why real leather is better?
There are multiple reasons to choose real leather over any other material, one of them is its unique character that speaks in any real leather product.
1.| Timeless
Leather is one of those few classic things that gets better with age. Like the saying goes “A true classic never goes out of style” holds true for real leather. With age, leather tends to develop a surface patina that adds more to the character. Real leather becomes softer with usage. Garments and accessories made of true leather tend to adapt to the body it is worn on. These are some of the few qualities of real leather that no other material can offer.
2.| Unique no duplicate
Nature is the best artist that doesn’t copy and repeat its work. Every skin encompasses a unique artistry of nature in itself. No two animal skins are the same, no two pieces of leather are the same, and every hide has its own grain pattern. Its like if real leather is telling the story about the life of the animal it is taken from one can sometimes see scratches, insect bites, and branding marks on full grain leather. It’s like the life of the animal is preserved by the tanning process. Just like real diamond leather is also imperfect and that’s what makes it class apart from any other material that is made on machines with repeated patterns. There’s no chance of getting duplicate grain texture when it comes to real leather.
3.| Breathable
Unlike many faux leathers, real leather is porous and breathable. This property of leather is what makes it stand high when it comes to leather garments and leather shoes, there’s nothing that can match the comfort and feel of real leather. Wearing leather doesn’t feel suffocating, leather shoes don’t develop a foul smell when worn for a longer duration. Thanks to this unique characteristic of real animal hide.
4.| luxurious
Wherever it is used leather will definitely uplift the game of luxury. Be it leather clothing or elegant leather shoes leather can make anybody feel the real luxury the leather brings to their lives. Not only in fashion but also when it comes to home improvement leather has stood a class apart, be it leather sofas or home walls covered with beautiful leather tiles, it all shows the good taste of the homeowner. Leather can provide your home with a unique character.
Faux leather: why people choose faux leather
Despite the above-listed reasons people choose faux leather for various reasons and one of the major ones is that they don’t actually know the real difference between both of these materials. Then comes the other reasons which are more sensible.
1.| Cheap
When somebody is really tight on budget and needs something that just fits their pocket, they would go for faux leather. Real leather is not only expensive at the time of buying but it is also expensive to maintain and requires significant effort to do so. Because of the cost factor people often end up getting something that serves them economically well.
2.| When they need something for a shorter period of timeless
It also happens a lot when people are even aware of all the benefits of real leather but they don’t actually need it in some places like leather tiles or leather handbags. For instance, leather tiles are prone to get damaged if there is a water leak somewhere in the home. Sunlight and heat can also make leather fade. Also in this fast-changing world of fashion ladies often change their handbags more frequently, so why would they need something like genuine leather that would last at least a decade?
3.| When maintenance is a concern
Despite knowing all the good things about real leather some folks will avoid it as it needs periodic maintenance like conditioning. So people would prefer faux leather which needs little to no maintenance at all.
4.| When animal friendly
Those who follow veganism and even those who don’t are worried about the animals. People who do not want to get animals killed for their skin. But it is also a fact that leather is usually a byproduct of the meat industry, which will otherwise end up in a landfill harming the environment and living beings.
Why you should never use faux leather
1.| Doesn’t last long
If you really want something that will last for decades then you should avoid faux leather. See real leather is like a one-time investment. A true leather jacket can even outlast its owner sometimes.
2.| Not good for the environment
Although marketed heavily as a substitute for leather, cruelty-free, and whatnot, faux leather is a kind of plastic after all and it does not decompose easily.
3.| Deteriorates over time
Unlike true leather, faux leather goods will lose their value over time, it’s my personal experience that I once had a PU leather jacket, I wore it for like 2 or 3 times then I put it in the wardrobe. A year after this when I pulled it out for a night out it started breaking in pieces. It was kind of chipping so badly that I could not even wear it for one more year. It is not true for all of them of course as they also have different types and qualities but it can never last like real leather.
Conclusion
This is one of the most popular questions among people whether to choose real leather or simply go for cheaper faux leather. Despite its good quality, is it worth spending more on real leather products? Well, real leather has many factors deciding its quality like a method of tanning, type of leather, animal source, and many other factors. Full grain leather is considered the best quality leather but good quality can be found in almost anything, whether it is real leather or not. Given that one should be ready to pay the price. After all, it’s a personal choice and can vary from person to person, situation to situation, etc.
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