The difference between PU Leather and genuine leather

In life, we often come into contact with PU leather. When you buy a new pair of leather shoes, you will inevitably want to know whether the shoes are genuine leather or PU, as a way to determine whether you are being pitted.

PU Leather is a type of synthetic leather that often has the feel and look of real leather, but is low cost, not durable, and basically contains some chemicals used to create the illusion.

An old leather jacket is the most comfortable garment and will become very shiny after years of wear and polish. But to maintain this level of "timeless quality" must be valuable, and leather is an absolutely limited resource, so mankind has developed an "artificial choice", which is PU Leather. Some people can accept PU Leather products, but people with good taste and knowledge of PU Leather will generally choose genuine leather.

Ordinary people generally do not have much experience with the world of luxury leather goods, so it is important to know the difference between genuine leather and PU leather. It's even better to know some small details that can immediately identify fake leather.

PU Leather is made from two layers of leather that are coated with a synthetic polymer coating, such as polyurethane. Polyurethane is commonly used in automobiles and furniture, and the full name is polyurethane, which is where the name PU Leather comes from.

PU Leather is generally made from animal fibers that are of lower quality in cowhide. Because cowhide is up to 45mm thick, it can only be cut to make items such as upholstery, clothing, bags or shoes. So in the tannery, cowhide is divided into many layers, the top layer is the highest quality grain layer, and the bottom layer is called second layer leather. This two-layer leather is often used in the production of suede products and PU leather with polyurethane coating.

The history of artificial leather dates back to the 19th century and over the years many different types of "faux leather" have been developed. The materials used to make these "imitations" include pressed paper pulp, cork, collagen, plastic, and various organic and synthetic resins, which have given birth to many names, including contour leather, artificial cowhide, faux leather, vegan leather, and faux leather.

Some don't use animal skins at all, and some choose very cheap hides that are processed to look almost as good as the real top quality leather. It is well known that leather may be passed down for generations, while PU Leather will wear out in a short time.

If you are planning to buy a beautiful piece of leather furniture or clothing, but are worried about buying a fake, a little knowledge will show you that there are many obvious differences between genuine leather and PU leather.

First of all, they may both be made of real animal skin, but they belong to different levels of leather, and the quality is obviously different. It is the leather with the best surface texture and better breathability than artificial leather. Because it is not coated with a non-porous polymer, it does not "sweat" when the temperature changes.

It should be noted that during the production of PU Leather, a polyurethane solution may be applied to the suede film, then glued to the contour leather and removed. This PU Leather will also have a surprising leather "texture". The artificial pattern is almost "perfect" and completely different from nature's handiwork.

In terms of durability, the leather will become more shiny and supple over time, and even minor imperfections will only add to the character of the item. Leather requires a lot of chemicals when it is processed, and its natural decomposition process stops. The end product is a processed animal hide, not a synthetic material.

The malleability of leather predestines it to be stretched and bent without fear of damage, so leather can be exposed to extreme weather conditions without any risk of damage. Unlike PU Leather, it can be easily punctured and torn. Over time, whether due to the natural environment or use, PU Leather will begin to break down and will soon show signs of cracking and wear.

The mellow smell of leather is also difficult to imitate. PU Leather products have a very pungent chemical odor when you open the package. While the smell may fade, it will never have the true scent of leather.

In addition to being expensive and inconvenient to clean, most of us prefer to buy genuine leather when shopping. Leather requires more specialized cleaning methods and is generally difficult to accomplish at home. Each cleaning is an expense. PU Leather is easier to clean.

Although when buying furniture, car interiors and other items, experts always recommend choosing the higher priced genuine products, but if you are on a budget and don't mind changing it once every two years, there is nothing wrong with buying some small PU Leather products.

Faux leather such as PU Leather are good choices, whether you are against using leather for ethical reasons or to save money and have a stylish design. But if you're more after the classic look, smell, feel and durability that can be passed down through generations in your family, there's no substitute for the physical.