Leather vs Synthetic leather

 Leather vs Synthetic leather

Every leather has its unique characteristics that make them the best to use with a certain leather project. As leatherworkers, when it comes to picking the leather to use, we always wanted the best and most durable kind to give customers the satisfaction they wanted. So let me familiarize you with some of the leather’s characteristics you should keep an eye on that will help you know if it is authentic leather or synthetic leather.

Authentic  leather is made from animal hides such as buffalo, cattle, and even pigs. In contrast, the synthetic leather was made from plastic material and treated with dyes to make it look like leather from texture to color. There are synthetic leathers that feel like real leather, and it adds up to the confusion of what leather is best to do for one project. Truly, leathers can be hard to distinguish if it is real or not.

Authentic leather came from sheep hide, oxen, goats, buffalo, and cattle. It is treated with dyes and other chemicals that make it durable and stretchable, so it can last for years without even getting damaged. And since the animals we mentioned have different skins, you should observe the detailed lines, stretch marks, and skin patterns if they are alike because all real leathers are unique. It also has pores that absorb the leather conditioners and oils you put in but also remember that it is not waterproof. You can also tell it is real leather by simply looking at it because real leather has a luxurious appearance. Like a fine wine, it only gets beautiful as time passes by because of the patina produced as it ages. Although the color and shine may fade, they can still be enhanced with regular maintenance.

Synthetic leathers are made out of plasticizers but keep in mind there is a type that still uses authentic scrap leather, which is faux leather. It is also treated with dye but with additional chemicals like polyurethane to make it more leather-like. Since it uses ingredients that can be found and bought easily, it is way cheaper than authentic leather, perfect for leather crafters who want to sell cheap leather products. It has a smooth texture and shine, and the good news is it is waterproof, so there will be no problem even if you accidentally spill your water on it. What’s also good about synthetic leather is that you can decide the design to put on it to look more attractive. The only issue is since it is synthetic, it is not heat resistant.

Sources:

tinkerstoolbox.com