What is PU leather? 10 good reasons to choose

PU or polyurethane is an artificial leather made out of thermoplastic or celluloid polymer. It is a synthetic material that is supposed to be the alternative to real leather in footwear, clothing, and other applications as it resembles the surface finish of real leather.

Pu and leather both look identical. PU leather is what considered a cost-effective substitute for leather but lacks the durability of real leather. It is inferior to real leather.

PU leather is 100% synthetic and does not contain any animal product so it’s vegan.

Vegan leather means the same as the meaning of pu leather.

Difference between pu and bonded leather

PU leather is completely made out of plastic polymer but bonded leather is made from partial leather and PU. Real leather leftovers which are usually waste are shredded and mixed with resin to form sheets, then these sheets are coated with PU to mimic the top grain surface of real leather. Sometimes it is embossed to look like full-grain leather.

Advantages

• Cost- PU leather is way more cheaper than real leather.
• Maintenance- maintenance of pu is also easy as it is non-porous and non-breathable so it doesn’t absorb water and stains hence it is easy to clean.
• 100% vegan- as it is not made out of animal products.
• Easier to work with as it is not as stiff as leather.
• Easier to produce in factories as it doesn’t consist of any natural material.
• Lightweight as compared to real leather.
• No damage from water as it is non-porous.
• Available in a variety of colors and designs.
• Easier to store as it doesn’t require periodic conditioning and moisture won’t affect it.

Disadvantages

• Non-porous and non-breathable unlike real leather so it will not provide the comfort of real leather while wearing.
• Way less durable than real leather.
• Non biodegradable in nature unlike real leather and genuine leather.
• chemical and plastic smell.
• Doesn’t develop a patina like real leather does over time.

how do identify its PU?

A very easy way to tell if you are a novice with leather is to look at the product tag if available or simply ask the shopkeeper.

The most obvious difference would be the price, pu is much cheaper than real leather.

Weight can also suggest the difference as PU is lighter than real leather.

PU leather will seem perfect throughout the surface on the other hand real leather grains will have some variations and imperfections along the surface.

Some people may suggest a fire or water test for leather but we would not recommend that especially if you do not own the product.

All fake and low quality leathers are available with different names and you should know if you are planning to buy one or you are simply trying to avoid it.

Fake leather is also called by these names-

• faux
• PU
• Polyurethane
• vegan
• pvc leathers
• leatherette
• imitation leather
• pleather
• rexine
• synthetic leather

Low-quality leathers which are as good as fake are called-

• Bicast
• Bonded leather
• Reconstructed
• PU split

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article on PU leather.

Also, check out our related articles Textured Leather.

What is real leather? And why should we use it?

Different types of leather from different kinds of animal skins and their uses.

How to soften leather: 4 easy ways to condition leather at home

leather and genuine leather: are they same?

Frequently Asked Questions