Faux Leather vs. Real Leather: How to Spot the Difference?

Walking through shopping streets or checking out alluring leather essentials in stores, the biggest concern that strikes the back of my mind is authenticity. How can one choose between real leather and faux leather? Everyone wants to get the best leather accessories that suit their fashion style and serve the purpose for the long term.

In this fiercely competitive leather market, stuff from a real leather company is slowly becoming rare. So, if you aren’t habituated to buying many leather goods, it will be an arduous battle for you to differentiate genuine leather from faux leather. Don’t get tensed; we will help with a few essential tips to refine your faux and genuine leather ideas.

What is Faux Leather?

Faux leather is an artificial form of leather that serves as a great alternative to authentic leather. It is popularly tagged as synthetic leather, and its formation majorly falls into two segments: Polyurethane (PU) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). The faux leather is treated with a wide range of artificial materials, including chemicals and wax, to give genuine leather’s original texture, shine, color, and feel. In addition, synthetic leather attributes are entirely distinct from genuine leather, and they are quite noticeable. The surface feels cold, smells like plastic due to the composition of chemicals, and has a uniform texture pattern.

What is the Difference Between Real Leather and Faux Leather?

Is faux leather real leather? How to tell if the leather is real? These are fairly consumed questions for the people planning to buy new leather to beautify their closet. After penetrating a wide range of leather products into the mainstream, sometimes it can be challenging to notice the differences with the naked eye. However, there is nothing to be concerned about; we will help you make a precise distinction whether it is faux leather or genuine leather.

1. Look

Sometimes looking at the surface of leather can help you to make the decision. The genuine leather is made of natural animal skins such as sheep, goats, buffaloes, and more. Its surface structure lacks uniformity as no animal skin is perfectly aligned. It also includes some scars, blemishes, and related imperfections. The inconsistent patterns of pores are a good sign of authentic leather. In addition, its edges also look natural and have rough ends.

On the other hand, the surface of faux leather is uniform, and it has a homogeneous texture pattern that is made with the help of a machine. The fake leather has a uniform pattern of pores designed artificially. Further, its edges are also too perfect and smooth, like plastic.

2. Touch

If you look with the naked eye, faux and authentic leather will look the same at first instinct. Importantly, if you examine the surface of the leather with your fingertips, you can easily make a distinction between real and fake ones. genuine leather is a natural organic fiber, and it feels like skin with stretches and wrinkles.

On the contrary, the touch of synthetic leather will feel smooth and shiny with perfect alignment, and one will hardly notice any scratches or wrinkles on the surface. Also, the genuine leather touch will give a warm feeling, and the artificial one will be cold. So, touch the leather and comprehend the authenticity by feeling it.

3. Smell

The following aspect is the smell of the leather. If you have ever smelled the real leather wallet or genuine leather belt, your senses are familiar with what to look for – a pure aroma of natural and organic material portraying the essence of genuine leather. The distinct and leathery smell is an infallible way to identify authentic leather.

While faux leather will predominantly smell like plastic or a mysterious chemical odor, most synthetic leather has a plastic scent that is easily comprehensible.

4. Durability

Another aspect to consider is durability or the life cycle of the leather. You have often witnessed the genuine leather jacket men’s or real leather jackets women’s always have immense demand in the mainstream. The primary reason behind this is the longevity of genuine leather, thanks to the natural and organic material.

The faux leather, on the other hand, lacks durability and long-term endurance, and it cannot sustain harsh or rough conditions for too long and lose its essence. Faux leather is made up of wax, PVC, and chemicals.

5. Pricing

Last but not least, price play is a vital determinant between genuine leather vs. faux leather. You pay for what you believe. So, if you are paying more, you expect quality and trust in returns.

You make investments in leather products for their quality that thrives gracefully with time. Faux leather can be inexpensive, but it cannot serve the purpose for too long. The choice is yours!

Genuine Leather vs. Faux Leather

What is Real/Genuine Leather?

Genuine leather is a natural and organic form. It is the purest grade of leather that encompasses an array of natural imperfections and blemishes. Its beautiful natural essence cultivates pride and luxury. The touch, smell, comfort, and durability serve the purpose for a considerable time. As real leather starts to age, it ages gracefully and becomes more attractive and delicate.

Types of Real Leather

Genuine leather is that comes from animal skin. Further, it has been principally categorized into three types. Let’s check them out:

• Aniline Leather

It is premium quality and top-grain leather in the purest form. Aniline leather has a natural elegance and looks very raw, crude, and rough. It is entirely free from any treatment and vulnerable to scratches and blemishes. Also, its surface fades when exposed to sunlight for too long.

• Semi-aniline Leather

Semi-aniline leather is the following aspect of pure leather with a light surface coating of pigment and a clear finish. The layer provides a protective shield from scratches and stains without losing the original essence of the leather, and it also ensures inclusive color consistency throughout the surface.

• Pigmented Leather

It is top-grain leather coated with pigment or a clear top layer finish to make the surface glossy and look less natural. The laminated layer provides durability and conceals the blemishes. Pigment leather is easy to maintain and resists fading, stains, and wear comprehensively.

Why Choose Real Leather Products Over Faux Leather?

We hope, by looking at the popular distinctions and characteristics of real and faux leather, you can make a prudent decision as per your need. Genuine leathers are among the most aesthetic and valuable materials, whereas faux leather comes as an alternative. Numerous brands have switched to offering cheaper and artificial leather products ranging from bags to accessories but fail to match the durability and quality of genuine leather. You can get a faux leather backpack or faux leather jacket at affordable rates, but soon it turns out to be a bad investment.

There is a famous saying, “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten”, and it fits well with the context. It is pretty evident that genuine leather shop stuff gives the best return on investment, whether it is real leather wallet men’s, purse, or men’s real  belts; you will get desired results as it comes with quality and longevity. So, if you’re on a decent budget, then go for credibility.