Genuine Leather vs. Faux Leather - Leather Honey

How good are you at telling the difference between real leather and faux leather? For most people, it can be difficult to quickly identify one from the other. The ability to distinguish between real vs, fake leather is important not only for the sake of knowing what you are purchasing but also to make sure you are using the correct cleaners and conditioners.

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Not all leather cleaner and conditioner can clean all types of leather, much less clean faux leather. Knowing the difference between genuine leather vs. faux leather will save you time and money in the long run.

Types of genuine leather

Genuine leather is made 100 percent from the skins of animals. Within the genuine leather category are three specific types: aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented.

Aniline is very high-quality leather that has a natural, pigment free surface and contains no protective treatment. As a result, aniline is extremely vulnerable to stains. Even water can cause damage to aniline leather, making its cleaning process difficult. That is why it is best to regularly apply Leather Honey – which is water repellent — to prevent stains from happening in the first place. The thorough conditioning process also protects the delicate and valuable leather from cracks and scratches.

Semi-aniline leather is aniline leather, sort of. Unlike aniline leather, this type has a small quantity of pigment. The touch of added pigment is great for maintaining color consistency. The light surface coating makes it more durable than aniline leather, however, it still has the natural appearance of true aniline leather. Cleaning semi-aniline leather is safe, as water can be applied to it without the fear of staining it. With a small amount of soap mixed with water, semi-aniline leather can be easily wiped clean.

Pigmented leather has been coated with a pigment surface so that it retains a shiny and even color. Pigmented and semi-aniline leather are so similar that they are often referred to as each other. For example, a leather retail furniture store may label a pigmented couch as semi-aniline leather. Like semi-aniline leather, pigmented leather is water-resistant so it is incredibly easy to clean and easier to tell if leather is real. Keep in mind that water dries out the leather, which makes it susceptible to cracks and scratches. Therefore conditioning leather thoroughly is necessary immediately after it dries.

Pigmented and semi-aniline leather are generally the leaders in the retail leather industry because they are so easy to maintain and in most cases, more affordable. However, certain people often prefer aniline leather for its higher quality and natural look or feel. It is a matter of personal preference.

Using the best leather care products

Whichever type of leather you choose, remember it requires thorough conditioning. Leather Honey is your best solution for that job. The family-recipe formula deeply penetrates all types of leather and restores the lost moisture. Leather Honey keeps leather looking like new for years and years and can easily (and affordably!) be purchased on this website or on Amazon. Our leather cleaner also uses non-toxic ingredients to clean your faux leather, vegan leather/pleather and genuine leather. If you're looking for the ultimate vegan leather cleaner, Leather Honey is your solution.

Types of fake leather

Faux leather is not porous like real leather is. It is not made from real animal skin like aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented leather.

There are two types of faux leather: polyvinyl chloride (PVC - vinyl), and polyurethane (PU).

Vinyl is a type of fake leather that isn't as breathable as polyurethane and can typically be found on book bindings and even briefcases because of how it repels moisture.

Vegan leather vs. pleather

Pleather, or vegan leather, is the most common type of faux leather. As you have probably already guessed, the p stands for plastic and it's made from either PVC or polyurethane. If you're comparing vegan leather vs. real leather, vegan leather and pleather are less expensive than genuine leather, but they can sometimes be more durable.

When trying to spot fake vs. real leather, it be as simple as reading the label. If you see the words "polyester," "vegan" or "synthetic" it's not real. Doing a touch test is another easy way to spot fake leather because faux leather feels smooth - more like plastic; whereas real leather will feel soft but a bit grainy.

Leather conditioning process

As you can see, the conditioning process significantly differs between genuine leather and faux leather. Using the wrong conditioning application can result in damage to the material so make sure you confirm the type of leather you have before washing and conditioning it.

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5 Ways To Tell The Difference Between Real And Fake Leather

How Is Leather Graded?

One of the most popular shoe materials is synthetic leather. But what is the difference between faux leather shoes and real leather shoes?

The most significant difference between faux leather shoes and real leather is that the latter is made from animals. In contrast, faux leather is made from synthetic materials. PU leather can be seen worldwide, used by some of the world’s biggest shoe brands.

Yet when it comes to formal shoes, genuine leather is still extremely popular. But is it worth the extra money? We’ve compared the differences between real and fake leather shoes to help you decide.

If you’re looking for a quality pair of faux leather shoes, head over to our shop.

Types of Faux Leather Shoes

Faux leather can be used for all types of footwear from men, ladies, and kids. These can include heels, flats, flip flops, and boots. You can also find plenty of faux leather sneakers.

How to Tell the Difference Between Faux Leather Shoes and Real Leather

With these tips, you’ll be able to tell the difference between faux leather and real leather shoes. Then you can figure out if real leather is worthwhile, or if you’d prefer to buy pleather shoes.

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Material

Faux leather shoes are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PU leather (polyurethane). To make them look like leather, sheets of the material are heat-stamped with an artificial leather grain.

Faux leather is also known as faux leather, pleather, synthetic leather, or artificial leather.

This material is used on furniture, clothing, and of course, shoes. Our very own Mazerata shoes are made from PU leather.

On the other hand, leather shoes are made from animal skins and hides. The most common animals used for leather are sheep, goats, equine animals, cattle, buffalo, pigs, and some aquatic animals. Animal activists have expressed their dissatisfaction with using animals for clothing.

What About Vegan Leather?

Faux leather is also considered to be vegan leather. It doesn’t harm any animals, making it a good fit for their lifestyle. Vegan leather mimics genuine leather but doesn’t cost any animals their lives.

But vegan leather can also be made from plants and other natural resources like recycled plastic, cork, apple peels, and pineapple leaves.

Shoe Care

Leather takes a lot of work. Especially if you want it to last long and stay in tip-top condition. For more information on leather care, you can read this post.

Taking care of PU leather shoes is simple. You can simply clean them with a cloth and water. They don’t require any polish, shoe trees, or special treatments.

Price

Leather is taken from animals, so it’s expensive. It takes time for the cow to grow to the right size to create a large leather panel. The animals need to be taken care of. So when you pay for leather, you’re paying to cover all of these expenses.

You can get different kinds of real leather. Full-grain leather is more expensive than lower-quality leather-like bonded leather or natural leather.

But there’s no questioning that the leather material is nice to look at. This is why it’s so sought after. A pair of quality leather shoes is a true statement.

The cost of leather and the desire for non-animal clothing and shoe products has led to a greater demand for synthetic leather shoes.

Fake leather shoes are not only more affordable but no animals are harmed in the making of them.

Longevity

The length of time your shoes last will depend on how you take care of them. But of course, the material matters as well. PU leather doesn’t last as long as normal leather. But it should last you around five years or more.

On the other hand, the longevity of genuine leather depends on the type of leather. Low-quality leather should last between 3 and 5 years of regular use. But higher-quality leather shoes can last up to 10 years.

Feel

Authentic leather shoes smell different. They’re also heavier. Genuine leather shoes also feel rougher than faux leather shoes. With real leather shoes, you’ll also find they will shape themselves to your feet over time.

Overall, there isn’t much difference in the feel between leather shoes and PU leather shoes.

Appearance

Since faux leather shoes are made to look identical to leather. You won’t really be able to tell the difference between the two, unless you are an expert. The best way to tell is that leather shoes will appear wrinkle and coarse, with grainy imperfections.

Leather shoes also wrinkle under pressure. Faux leather shoes simply repress and retain their shape. Real leather shoes are also absorbent. This factors largely into leather shoe care.

Final Thoughts on Synthetic Leather Shoes

Investing in a pair of leather shoes has its benefits. But you can get a similar experience at a lower price point with faux leather shoes.

PU leather shoes are a great, animal-friendly way to look great, feel good and not break the bank. Plus, the benefits of real leather shoes will only really be noticeable after a couple of years.

Do you prefer real leather or faux leather shoes? Let us know in the comments below.

Are you interested in learning more about Artificial Leather For Shoes(ar,pl,de)? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!