Fashion as an industry has been in the forefront of the most important aspects of human civilization for generations. There has always been a need for clothing, from the earliest days of modern societies. People had to protect themselves from predators, the dangers out in the world, as well as from the cold. In the early days, humans made do with what they could afford and everything was genuine, provided for by nature. In the modern times however, we have various materials to choose from when making our items of clothing. Back then, it was animal leather that made most of the clothing, together with fur. Today though, there is an effort being made and various green and environmentally friendly initiatives that are trying to put an end to the consumption of leather in fashion. Hunting animals just to make expensive clothing has long been a debate between those considering animal cruelty and completely unnecessary and those in favor of high quality fashion pieces.
With modern times come modern technologies and there is not a great alternative to real leather, which is simply called faux leather. Faux materials have come a long way and they are a far cry from what they used to be. Originally, they mostly looked the part. Now though, they are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Why is then real leather still a thing and why are animals still being used to produce clothes, shoes, and accessories? Can faux replace real and is it better? We talk about this very thing right here in this article. Read on to find out more about this interesting topic especially if you care about fashion industry. In the future there will be an even greater debate about going green and protecting the wildlife as well as environment as a whole. If you are interested in some amazing faux leather items and crafting supplies, check out the great selection available at barebutlercraftsupplies.com.
What Is Real Leather?
Obviously, real leather comes from animals that are known for having strong and beautiful looking leather that can be turned into all sorts of items. It is also often called gull grain leather and it is the absolute highest quality you can find. It is also the most expensive and handmade. Animal hides are turned into beautiful, artistic fashion pieces that turn heads. Some is quite hard and therefore difficult to work with but it is a very good investment as it can last decades with proper care.
What Is Faux Leather?
Faux, also called fake leather or polyurethane (PU) leather is artificially made leather that consists of thermoplastic polymer. If it is 100% PU, it is also 100% vegan, i.e. with no traces of animal product. Some varieties like bicast leather have a certain percentage of real leather in the compound used to make it. Bonded leather is also a combination of leftover fibers from real leather manufacturing that has been mixed with polyurethane binders. Bonded leather contains anywhere from 10% to 20% real leather while bicast leather contains even less. All in all, faux solutions are cheaper, easier to work with, and more widespread and the reasons for all of these things being the case are many.
Which Is Better?
It is difficult to say which is better, is it the real deal or the faux varieties. It greatly depends what you need from it, how much your budget is, and what kind of an item you are purchasing. There are now numerous types of leather out there on the market and it is overwhelming and challenging to pick the right product. If you are not sure how to tell, you can even mistake faux items for real leather pieces. Knowing the differences between them is crucial when browsing the shelves and looking for the right piece for your collection.
As mentioned earlier, real leather is by far the most expensive and the cost differences are actually quite noticeable. It is made up of real animal hide, it requires the most skill to create as well as the most time to do so. It is also the highest quality and lasts the longest. Faux solutions are much cheaper, cost less to make since they are easily manufactured, and has poorer qualities and properties. The same goes for bonded leather, which can be the cheapest in certain cases because it is the thinnest, especially when made of the worse quality scraps.
Regarding durability, real leather again takes the cake as it does not really wear out over time. It rather gains character and develops a patina on the natural surfaces. PU leather and bonded leather are nowhere near as durable, they are not breathable and it punctures and cracks over time. It is also much less resistant to water and fire. PU and bonded items can even peel, flake, and fade in color. Real animal hides do not have these problems which means genuine leather is always the most effective, hence the higher price and the more difficult manufacturing process.
When it comes to recognizing which is which, it is the appearance and texture that you need to be able to distinguish. Real leather looks natural and has limited color options. The texture is inconsistent, smooth, and soft. On the other hand, faux leather has consistent textures which are noticeable even with pieces that resemble the real stuff the most. It also comes in many styles and colors. Another great test is the smell. While highly subjective, real leather products have a very distinct smell that is not present anywhere else. Artificial, faux items smell like they are not natural but rather made in a factory, a smell that is similar to plastic, chemicals, or rubber. Real leather smells nice and it is a good test for you to check if a piece is genuine or not.
If you care about the environment and sustainability of the planet, go with faux. Also pick PU items if you do not want to overspend and if you do not really care about authenticity that much. Such items still look good, feel good, and are quite comfortable. On the other hand, if you are all about genuine items and fashion statements, if you want an investment that will last you for decades, pick a real leather item. You will hardly be disappointed with it.