Author:
Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation:
7 August 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Genuine leather items differ from those made of synthetic fibers due to its natural, splendid and elegant surface. On the market today there are synthetic materials that look like real leather at much cheaper prices. There are also products that are only partially made from pure leather but are labeled "real leather" or "made of real leather". This obscure term is used by businesses to deceive consumers. If you are looking to buy an expensive luxury leather item, you should know how to distinguish genuine leather from imitation leather.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Distinguish real leather from fake leather
Beware of any product that does not claim genuine leather. If an item is labeled "artificial material," it is definitely synthetic leather. If there is nothing written on the product, chances are that the manufacturer wants to conceal the fact that the item is not real leather. Used goods can, of course, lose their branding, but most manufacturers are proud of them using genuine leather and will note the following:
- Real leather
- Genuine leather (grade 3 leather)
- Top / Full grain leather (leather grade 2 / layer 1)
- Made with animal products (made from animal products)
Examine the surface grain of the product, ie "nodules" and fine holes, for defects and uniqueness that indicate genuine leather. In leather, imperfections are actually a good thing. Remember that real leather is made from animal skin, so each skin is as unique as any animal wearing it. Regular, equal, and very similar particles often indicate that they are mechanically generated.- Real skin can have scratches, wrinkles or creases - that's a good sign!
- Note that, as the manufacturer's technique matures, their designs will look more like real leather. This makes it very difficult to shop online because you are only allowed to see the pictures of the item.
Press into the skin, observing the wrinkles. Real skin wrinkles when you press it, similar to animal skin. Synthetic materials usually just sink below the finger pressed but retain stiffness and shape.
Smell leather goods, check for natural musty smells instead of plastic or chemical smells. If you are completely unsure if the item smells real leather, go to a genuine leather store and try to check some bags or shoes there. Ask if there are synthetic leather goods for sale and also try to smell them. Once you know the smell to look for, you will not be confused.
- Remember that real leather is only made from animal skin. Faux leather made from plastic. This may seem obvious, but real leather will smell like animal skin, and fake leather will smell like plastic.
Try the burning method, but be aware that this may partially damage the item. While in many cases it's best not to burn, but this test works well if you can select a small and invisible area to try, such as the underside of the sofa. Heat for 5-10 seconds to try:- Real skin will only burn slightly and smell like burned hair.
- The fake leather will catch fire and smell like burnt plastic.
Pay attention to the edges of the leather, because real leather will have a rough edge, while imitation leather has a smooth and straight edge. Synthetic material will look like machine cut out. Genuine leather is composed of many spontaneous fibers at the edges. The imitation leather is made from fiber-free plastic, which also means that the edges will be neatly cut.
Fold the leather item, observing slight changes in color if it is genuine leather. Similar to the "wrinkle test", real skin has elasticity when folded down, while naturally changing color and wrinkles. Faux leather is firmer and more uniform, and also harder to fold than real leather.
Test by dripping a drop of water on the item, as real skin is hygroscopic. If it is a leatherette, water will only accumulate on the surface. Real leather will suck the water in seconds and show if it is real leather or not.
Know that genuine leather is rarely cheap. Products made entirely of real leather will be very expensive. They are also often sold at a fixed price. Take a look around to find out the prices of genuine leather, semi leather, and synthetic leather to understand the differences between skin types. Cowhide leather is the most expensive of all leather for its durability and ease of tanning. Split leather is the underlying layer of skin separated from the surface of the skin, cheaper than top grain leather or belting leather (the skin on the top layer).
- If the price of the item seems suspiciously cheap then your doubt is correct. Real leather is not cheap.
- Although all genuine leather products are much more expensive than imitation leather goods, genuine leather comes in many varieties, and prices vary widely.
Not in terms of color. A light blue leather furniture look unnatural, but that doesn't mean it's not real leather. Colors and dyes can be added to both natural and synthetic leather, so you can ignore the color and focus only on touch, smell and texture to distinguish genuine and fake leather. skin. advertisement
Method 2 of 2: Know about real skin types
Understand that "Genuine Leather" is the only recognized genuine leather on the market. Most people are often interested in distinguishing genuine leather from fake leather. However, connoisseurs know that real leather also comes in many grades, of which "Genuine Leather" is actually the closest quality leather. Other genuine leather types are ranked from most expensive to cheapest as follows:
- Full Grain Leather (grade 1 leather)
- Top Grain Leather (2nd grade leather)
- Genuine Leather (3rd grade leather)
- Bonded Leather (rolled leather)
"Full grain" leather for premium products. This skin type uses only the top layer (closest to air), which is the roughest, most durable and most beautiful part. Full grain skin has no upper finish, meaning it has unique properties, wrinkles and colors. The number of surface layers of animal skin is less, and the roughness of layer 1 skin is also more difficult to handle, so this skin type is highly priced.
- Note that manufacturers will declare their products "made with full grain leather" even if only a few parts of the chair or sofa are made of grade 1 leather. This is another reason why consumers rarely encourage consumers to shop without seeing them in person.
Search for "top grain leather" to buy good quality items at a much more affordable price. The most common "premium" skin type is top grain skin that is removed from the skin just below the full grain and lightly treated to remove defects. It is smoother and more uniform than full grain leather but is also easier to handle, resulting in a lower price.
- Although not as durable as full grain leather, it is also firm and well-treated.
Know that "genuine leather" usually has suede or feels like it. Genuine leather is removed by peeling off the higher-grade, more durable skin on the surface, using a softer, easier-to-handle layer below. This leather is not as durable as full grain or top grain but is much cheaper because it can be easily fabricated in many items.
- Remember that "genuine leather" is a specific skin type, which does not mean the usual meaning of the phrase. If you go to a leather store and ask for “genuine leather” leather, they will think of this leather.
Stay away from "bonded leather", skin made from powdered leather and real skin cells mixed with glue. Although it is also leather, it is not normally whole skin removed from animal skin. Skin chips are gathered from a variety of skin types, ground and mixed with a colloidal solution to form leather flakes. Despite being cheap, this skin is of poor quality.
- Because of its low quality, rolled leather is often used for book covers and smaller items and is less prone to wear.
Advice
- Always buy leather products from reputable sellers to avoid synthetic leather unless you are a vegetarian.
Warning
- If you want to buy leather goods online, look for reputable sellers and brokers you know well to avoid being scammed.
