What is better genuine leather or eco leather

Nowadays, people again more often began to prefer things made from natural materials. They treat artificial ones with skepticism, and the word “dermatin” has become even more abusive. But not so long ago, eco-leather appeared on the market, which can become a worthy replacement for natural.

Pros and cons of genuine leather

Genuine leather - these are animal skins that have undergone a long series of various treatments, such as soaking, gilding, tanning and painting.

The manufacturing process is very harmful both for the environment and for employees working in the production. Clothing, accessories and furniture made of genuine leather are considered symbols of prestige, and they stand decently.

However, the undoubted advantage of this material is its strength and durability. Of course, at the same time, leather products require proper care, which includes cleaning from pollution and treatment with impregnations.

Advantages and disadvantages of eco-leather

For a long time, the analogues of genuine leather were dermatin and leatherette made of synthetic fabrics, which quickly wore out, had an unpleasant smell and an unpresentable appearance.

Therefore, the population has a contemptuous attitude towards such things. But eco-leather can change the prevailing view of man-made materials.

Reference! Faux leather was invented in the United States in 1963.

The material is a finely porous layer of polyurethane attached to a cotton or polyester base. When embossing these two layers, technologists create a pattern similar to genuine leather. Visually, a synthetic product is practically indistinguishable from natural, the secret can be revealed only by looking at the back.

This kind of skin is elastic and pleasant to the touch, it can only be bypassed with leather with aniline finish, which is very expensive and rarely presented on the market. The quality of the material depends on the thickness of the top polyurethane coating - the larger it is, the stronger the product. However, stiffness also depends on it, so the parameters are selected depending on the type of application.

Eco-leather stands out among other man-made options due to its many advantages.

  1. Breathability. Due to micropores in the polyurethane layer, the products constantly circulate air and water vapor, which is especially important for shoes.
  2. Water resistant. But at the same time, water cannot get inside, providing dryness.
  3. Thermal conductivity. The indicator is comparable to genuine leather, it perfectly maintains the optimum temperature both in summer and in winter.
  4. Frost resistance. The material withstands temperatures up to -35 ° C. Also able to withstand heat and does not fade in the sun.
  5. Wear resistance. Over time, the process of socks does not crack and does not lose its original appearance.
  6. Security. Unlike other leather substitutes, ecoskin does not contain harmful substances, such as polyvinyl chloride or plasticizers. And because of this, she does not have an unpleasant synthetic smell and does not cause allergic reactions.
  7. Ethics. In the manufacture of not a single living creature suffers, so the products are suitable for vegetarians, vegans and other caring citizens.
  8. Availability. The cost of things from this type of material is much lower than from genuine leather. And the possibility of long use will also save the buyer’s money.

The range of eco-leather application is quite wide. It makes clothes (jackets and now fashionable skirts), accessories (bags, gloves), shoes, upholstery for furniture and car interiors. It is easy to work with this material, it is perfectly cut, and many designers choose it for tailoring their collections.

Despite the impressive list of benefits, eco-leather has its drawbacks:

  1. Contamination cannot be removed with water, as it will leave stains and stains on the surface.
  2. Care should be taken to upholstery for furniture in light shades - the material, if it is not from a bona fide manufacturer, can absorb itself from the clothes.
  3. In case of damage, the fabric base can come out.

The fabric is unpretentious and requires the same care as natural. In order for the products to last longer, they should be treated with water-repellent impregnation, and the dirt should be removed either by special means or with a solution of alcohol with water (1: 1 ratio), after which it is necessary to wipe it dry.

Reference! Never use cleaning products that contain chlorine.

The times when products made of artificial materials were low-quality and short-lived were in the past. Thanks to modern technology, a substitute has entered the market that is in no way inferior to genuine leather, and in many ways even surpasses it. The choice, of course, remains with you, but I hope that after reading this article you will stop it on eco-leather.