Genuine leather with pu coating (eco leather, pu leather). What is eco leather or PU leather? Leather PU

Thanks to high technologies, it has become possible to use more advanced, high-quality types of artificial leather in the production of various products that are in no way inferior, but even in some cases superior in properties to natural leather.

Depending on the use of polymer composite materials, which are applied to a woven or non-woven base, artificial leather is divided into the following types: MF microfiber, PU polyurethane, fabric-based PVC (PVC), eco-leather, rubber, polyacetate (PA). Let's look at them in more detail.

Microfiber– the finest fibers made of polyamide or polyester, thanks to which such a base is soft, light, durable and elastic. This material is resistant to light (retains its original color when worn), physical (abrasion) and chemical factors.

Leather made on the basis of MF, in terms of external indicators, practically does not differ from natural leather, and it is possible to create all kinds of textures and color shades. Also, the advantages include good moisture-repellent properties, environmental friendliness (no harmful fumes), absence of foreign odors, and the effect of breathable skin.

Polyurethane PU

PU leather is considered the best material of the new generation, which consists of three layers.

First– based on cotton fabric; second– covered with genuine leather (with defects) that has undergone pre-treatment; third- a layer of high quality polyurethane.

Thanks to the final covering layer, the product can have a wide range of colors, patterns and prints. It is soft, hygienic, frost-resistant, and has a high level of tensile and tear strength.

The material turns out to be porous, due to this the material has good water-repellent and breathable properties. This material is also safe for health and does not evaporate foreign odors.

Fabric based PVC (PVC)

The type of PVC leather is considered the most common; it is made from polyvinyl chloride with the addition of a special plasticizer and additional components that are applied to the base.

To create the base, knitwear and non-woven materials made from natural or artificial fibers are used, on which the characteristics of the product (extensibility, strength) will directly depend.

To achieve greater elasticity, various synthetic additives are added to the material. PVC leather is much heavier than PU leather and less abrasion resistant. Main advantages– ease of care, durability, resistance to ultraviolet radiation and mold damage.

It is close in basic physical properties and positive qualities to PU leather, the main difference is the absence of a second layer. Synthetic fiber and cotton fabric are used as the base.

This material is in demand among buyers and manufacturers due to the presence of polyurethane, the excellent properties of which were described above. Eco-leather does not cause allergic reactions due to the absence of PVC in its composition.

Rubber

The first products made from artificial materials imitating leather were shoes made of rubber impregnated with a rubber solution. Now rubber is used to make shoe parts such as sole heels.

Reference! Initially, rubber leather began to be produced quite a long time ago in Europe (at the end of the 19th century). In our country, industrial rubber production was created in the 1930s.

Important! Products made from artificial materials (with the exception of PU polyurethane and MF microfiber) cannot be washed or dry cleaned.

Wide range of applications

For each area of ​​application, depending on the characteristics of the material and the possibilities of technological processing, a certain type of artificial leather is used.

Materials made from MF are useful in the manufacture of upholstery fabric for upholstered furniture and car seats, as well as sports equipment and shoes (sports and casual).

Most furniture designers recognize the wide range of uses of artificial leather for the implementation of all kinds of design solutions.

For the manufacture of upholstery fabric, as well as interior items, PVC leather is considered an ideal option due to its synthetic nature, variety of color shades and ease of care. It also remains in demand in the production of clothing (raincoats, skirts) and bags.

PU eco-leather is used in the production of clothing, bags, suitcases, and leather goods (purses, gloves, belts, business card holders).

The main advantage of products made from artificial material is their affordable price, which ensures high popularity among consumers.

How many times, while reading product characteristics, have you come across the abbreviation PU leather(PU) or PU leather? This material, despite its young age, has already earned popularity among consumers due to its qualities. And in this article we will figure out what this popular new product is. The first thing to start with is that PU leather is, of course, completely different from what we remember from childhood, like leatherette or leatherette. It combines the advantages of synthetic and natural materials. PU (from the English polyurethane) leather is not inferior in quality even, and in some characteristics it surpasses it.

Thanks to the polymer that is applied to its base, this leather receives a number of useful properties, which gives it such important and undeniable advantages over natural leather:

• high wear resistance;
• no harmful additives, PU leather is an environmentally friendly material;
• has pleasant tactile properties;
• leather is more resistant to wear, which gives it an advantage over natural leather;
• PU leather does not stretch or crack;
• PU leather performs well under the influence of low and high temperatures. In other words, such skin does not become stiff in the cold and does not heat up in the heat.

Polyurethane, among all polymer coatings, is the most resistant to abrasion and stretching. Thanks to the polyurethane coating, the material acquires such important qualities as strength and softness. Unlike natural leather, polyurethane is more frost-resistant and has the most important characteristic - the ability to “breathe”, thanks to through pores. This feature is associated with high popularity, because these are such recently important hygienic indicators as air permeability, vapor permeability and hygroscopicity.

The basis of PU (PU) leather is cotton fabric, resistant to mechanical stress and stretching. In its production, microfibers and high-quality polyurethane are used, produced using new technologies. We call PU leather eco-leather because it is hypoallergenic.

High-quality PU leather has no odor, and during use it does not stretch or crack. During its manufacture, the inner layers are made from defective leather of natural origin, which has undergone special processing. The outer layer of polyurethane can be given a variety of colors and any pattern, maintaining the qualities of natural leather for air exchange and resistance to deformation, while at the same time giving a special design. That is, thanks to this, PU leather can be given a more attractive appearance than natural leather, which is very important in the rapidly moving world of fashion.

The use of PU leather is explained by the fact that this material is inexpensive compared to natural leather and is almost as good as it in terms of mechanical qualities and functionality. And what can we say about the design possibilities, because this material can be obtained in any color and structure.

All this allows us to produce watch straps at a low price, which is accordingly reflected in the cost of the finished product, while maintaining the high quality of the finished product. Some misconceptions regarding PU leather should also be dispelled.

What is leatherette?

Faux leather contains a woven base, and to produce PU leather, the top layer of inexpensive natural leather is removed, then covered with polyurethane and then embossed.
PU leather and artificial leather (PVC) PVC have nothing in common. The only thing they have in common is that they are polymers.

PVC artificial leather is made from polyvinyl chloride with the addition of a plasticizer and other additional components.

PU leather is almost two times lighter than PVC leather and, as we have already mentioned, has high organoleptic properties.

In conclusion, it should be noted that PU leather is an already proven material that is made on a natural basis. And one of its main advantages for the buyer is, of course, the price. Often the cost is almost five times lower than the same model made from genuine leather, thanks to which you can change clothes, following the latest fashion trends. And, what is so important in the use of accessories and clothing, it is unusually light, products made from PU leather can be washed in a washing machine, and you don’t even need to iron it - you just need to let it hang on a hanger for several hours.

Currently, we are very actively purchasing goods from online stores. Often, a buyer is attracted by the price on sale; colorful photographs make them take out a credit card and pay for the goods. However, as popular wisdom says: “If you hurry, you will make people laugh!” In order to be guaranteed to receive a product of exactly the quality that the buyer expects, it is necessary not only to carefully study the product from the photo and fluently read the description, but also to have some theoretical knowledge that will help to avoid annoying mistakes and wasteful expenses.

Today we will talk about leather products, or more precisely about the material itself - leather. Man has been using leather in everyday life since ancient times. After one or another processing method, the animal’s skin could be used either as a fur product or as one or another type of leather. Clothes, shoes, equipment, covers and some parts for weapons, as well as some elements of military armor, were made from leather.

Leather is a strong and durable material. It has good protective properties, is elastic and durable with proper care. Aesthetically attractive, it can give things both a sophisticated elegant and a reliable, rugged appearance. The science of leatherwork has continuously developed and improved over the centuries. There are many methods of tanning and processing leather, about which a lot of specialized literature has been written. Like any other area of ​​human activity, leather production uses its own special terminology, which is also used in the description of goods in the store.

Genuine Leather

• Classic cattle leathers:

Cowhide ( Bull leather , Steerhide ) – very dense, tough, durable leather with a thickness of 2.5 to 5 mm. Durable, wear-resistant, practically insensitive to moisture. Used for the manufacture of haberdashery goods (bags, purses, backpacks, belts in ethnic, “country” and “crazy” styles), jackets, travel and special footwear (boots, ankle boots, boots), as well as decorative and gift items (from book bindings to key chains and hairpins).

An example of a leather jacket made from cowhide. The photo shows the thickness of the leather and its characteristic texture.

Buffalo leather ( Buffalo leather ) – the densest, toughest and heaviest of natural leathers with a thickness of 0.9 to 3 mm with a characteristic “coarse-grained” (or “crumpled”) texture of the front surface. Resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. It is used similarly to cowhide, but is much less common and more expensive. Very popular in the manufacture of jackets and accessories for bikers.

An example of a buffalo leather bag.

Cowhide ( Cowhide , neat " s leather ) – plastic, elastic, durable leather with an impressive natural texture on the front side. It accepts various types of dressing, processing and coloring well. Allows you to obtain a significant range of leather materials of various colors and textures, including elite and exclusive ones. It has a wide range of applications, including: sewing clothes, shoes and haberdashery, upholstery of furniture, upholstery and decoration of car interiors, residential and office premises, manufacturing of decorative and gift items.

Cowhide from the American leather company Horween.

An example of a handmade belt from cowhide. Product from the Japanese platform Rakuten.

Cow's skin (WITHow leather ) - durable leather, less thick and stiff than bovine leather. It has a pleasant natural texture and is wear-resistant. Used for the manufacture of haberdashery goods, outerwear, shoes and accessories in a moderate price range.

Women's bag made of cow leather. Mass production. China.

Calfskin ( Calfskin , calf , veal ) – thin, soft, flexible, silky to the touch leather, has a natural “breathable” structure, high strength and wear resistance. The characteristics, uses, and costs of calfskin vary depending on the age of the animals. Skin of dairy calves (up to 6 months) – opoek– drapes perfectly and holds its shape, has high elasticity and resistance to deformation. High-quality clothing and accessories are made from it. Skin of calves up to one year of age - outgrowth– thicker, less elastic and used for the manufacture of high-quality shoes, bags and other haberdashery products and accessories. The toughest and densest skin is that of calves up to 18 months of age. It is used both for the manufacture of high-quality shoes, bags, suitcases and various souvenirs, and in interior design.

Italian gloves Calfskin. Shop epauletnewyork.

• Classic leathers from the skins of domestic and wild animals:

Horse leather ( Horsehide , Horse leather ) – fairly dense, high-strength leather of medium plasticity, requiring quite a long processing time to achieve quality. Used for the manufacture of high-quality men's outerwear, hats, shoes, accessories, as well as natural upholstery and lining materials.

A modern replica of an American flight jacket from the Second World War from the company Aeroleatherclothing.

Some jackets made from such leather are recommended to be specially shrunk (much like a pair of raw denim jeans) and then broken in. If anyone is interested, here are the instructions.

Goatskin (Goat skin /leather) – delicate and soft, very thin and durable, has a unique wave-like pattern, is quite waterproof, retains heat well, is plastic and elastic. Used to make high quality, elegant accessories and lightweight outerwear.

Leather jacket made of goatskin from an American company Alpha Industries.

Deerskin ( Deerskin , Deer leather, doeskin , buckskin ) – elastic, durable, velvety, retains its shape well even with frequent changes in temperature and humidity. During the dressing process, it is treated with animal fats, retains heat well, and protects from wind and moisture. As a rule, it is used for the manufacture of men's shoes, briefcases, bags, gloves and other accessories, less often for sewing outerwear.

For example, here is a bag from an American company, known for its very attentive attitude to materials and details.

The characteristic texture of the material is visible here.

Sometimes deerskin, with the help of special processing, can, on the contrary, be quite tough. For example, Indian-made deerskin Parflech, is characterized as quite tough. Currently used for making accessories in ethnic style. Term Parflech It is also used for similar processing of elk and buffalo leather.

Moose skin (Elk Skin) – elegant, durable, silky to the touch leather, similar in properties to deer leather, but has a slightly more porous structure. Used for sewing men's outerwear and accessories.

This is what the details of a hunting jacket made of elk leather look like.

The use of elk leather in FBT moccasins from the iconic Japanese manufacturer Visvim.

Here you can see the texture of the leather and the hand stitching used by the craftsman.

Sheepskin - sheep skin (Sheepskin) – flexible, soft, elastic skin, with high extensibility. It is perfectly processed and retains its desired shape. It is considered one of the best materials for making high-quality fashion clothing, hats and accessories.

Men's jacket from the site amazon.co.uk.

Pigskin (Pigskin) – fairly thin and light leather with a characteristic large-pore texture. It accepts dressing and coloring well, but is not durable or water resistant. Used for the mass production of inexpensive haberdashery goods, clothing, shoes, accessories, upholstery and lining materials.

Wallet made of pigskin. Area Ebay.

Case for penknife made of pigskin.

• Exotic leathers:

Crocodile skin ( Crocodile skin / leather ) – characterized by noble beauty, complex, time-consuming and labor-intensive processing, strength, elasticity, absolute resistance to moisture and dirt, and very high cost. Based on raw materials, properties and price, they are divided into: leather cayman ( Caiman skin / leather ) – more rigid and less durable; actual crocodile skin and leather alligator ( Alligator skin / leather ) . Footwear, clothing, haberdashery and accessories made of crocodile leather are made primarily by hand by the highest class craftsmen and adorn the collections of the world's leading designers.

Wallet made of crocodile skin.

Watch bracelet made of crocodile leather. Handmade by the Japanese manufactory KC"S.

Snake skin ( Snakeskin , Snake leather ) – smooth and elastic, with fantastic patterns and textures, strong, durable and perfectly resistant to various types of dressing, processing and coloring. The most popular leather python ( Python skin / leather ) And cobras ( Cobra skin / leather ) . Snakeskin is used to make shoes, clothing and accessories, giving even the smallest item originality and uniqueness.

Cowboy style wallet made of snakeskin.

Ostrich leather ( Ostrich skin / leather ) – dense, flexible, quite durable leather, has a very impressive texture of the front surface. One of the most popular materials in the collections of many famous designers. Used for the manufacture of shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items, decorative elements and interior decoration.

Ostrich leather gloves. The characteristic texture is visible.

Kangaroo leather ( Kangaroo skin / leather ) – plastic and springy, light and durable, has high air permeability and hygroscopicity, perfectly retains its properties and shape in finished products. Used for sewing clothes, shoes, including sports shoes, haberdashery and accessories.

Hiking boots made of kangaroo leather from an American brand.

Shark skin ( Shark skin / leather ) – is considered the most durable among natural leathers, while being light and elastic. In its natural state it is covered with very hard and sharp scales, which are quite difficult to remove. Shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items and various accessories, decorative elements and souvenirs are made from shark skin.

Shark skin wallet, handmade. Japan.

Stingray skin ( Stingray skin / leather ) – has a very attractive fine-grained texture of the front surface, is very durable and difficult to manufacture and process, but is waterproof, resistant to dirt and does not require special care. It is used to make high-quality outerwear, shoes, haberdashery and accessories, decorative elements and even women's jewelry.

Iphone case made of stingray leather.

Methods of tanning, dyeing and finishing leather

Crust ( Krust ) – a general designation for dense leathers with a preserved natural grain surface, obtained primarily from the hides of cattle.

Such leathers undergo chrome or chrome-free tanning and are subjected to top or through dyeing. To protect from moisture, the front surface of the crust is treated with natural wax, while maintaining the natural breathability of the skin. Crust is used for the manufacture of shoes, haberdashery and office products, furniture upholstery, the manufacture of goods for riding (saddles, harnesses) and special-purpose goods (sheaths, bags, holsters, etc.). Products made from trust are durable; with prolonged use in places of bends and constant friction, they acquire a darker color (patination) and the effect of natural aging.

Vegan– crust tanned with substances of natural (vegetable) origin.

Both cattle hides and pig skins are used to produce the vegan product. Vegan is used to make decorative and gift items, accessories and household items in ethnic, “country” and “crazy” styles, elements of traditional costumes, goods for riding (saddles, harnesses) and special purposes (sheaths, game bags, holsters, etc. .) self made.

Smooth skin- a general designation for high-quality and elite leathers with a natural grain surface, obtained from calf, goat and sheep leather, the skin of young cows and bulls, in rare cases - from pig and foal skin.

The front surface of smooth leather is not processed at all or undergoes minimal refinement by spraying wax, resin or paint, sometimes using light dust embossing. Smooth leather is flexible, retains natural breathability, and, like crust, is prone to natural patination during use. They are used for sewing clothes and shoes of the highest class, making accessories, haberdashery and gift items, prestigious furniture, decorating and finishing interiors.

Aniline leather (Aniline leather ) – smooth premium leather, with a thin, non-pigmented protective shell applied to the painted surface. Poorly protected from external influences, most prone to patination.

Semi-aniline and aniline-plus leather ( Semi - aniline leather ) – aniline leather with additional coating of pigments and dyes. A little tougher and lower quality, however, more resistant to external influences.

Skin with corrected facial surface ( Corrected grain leather ) – semi-aniline leather, subjected to multi-stage processing until the front surface is perfectly aligned, applied with a polymer coating and light embossing. Tougher and lower quality than semi-aniline leather, but has reliable protection against moisture and dirt.

Nappa (Nappa leather ) – soft and elastic semi-aniline leather with a corrected grain surface with a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm, made from sheepskin and cattle hides. The hides are subjected to double tanning and various types of additional processing to give various decorative effects. Nappa is used to make hats, outerwear and lightweight clothing, haberdashery, various accessories and decorative elements.

Velor leather) – soft and flexible leather with short, thick hair. Velor is made from dense, small skins of pigs and cattle, by chrome tanning followed by sanding the front or back side of the skin. “Front” velor is obtained by grinding the front side of the skin (merei), “bakhtarmy” velor is obtained by grinding the back side of the skin (bakhtarma). The front side of “bakhtarmy” velor is polished. Velor is not durable and resistant to moisture and dirt. Used for the production of outerwear, shoes and haberdashery. To increase water resistance and service life, velor must be subjected to additional processing, and products made from it must be carefully cared for.

Suede (chamois leather) – soft, thin, durable, well-stretchable velvety leather, with thick short pile without shine on both sides. Made from fat tanned leather, processed on both sides. It has a porous structure, perfectly permeates water and air, retains its shape and properties when wet and after drying. Suede is resistant to temperature changes and some caustic substances, and does not cause allergic reactions. High-quality suede is obtained from the feathers, skins of young deer, elk, goats and sheep and is used for the manufacture of clothing, linen, hats, light dress shoes, orthopedic products, various accessories and jewelry. From the skins of adult sheep and deer, technical and rubbing suede is obtained, which are used in industry.

Laika ( kidskin , dogskin ) – thin elastic leather of light pastel colors, with a perfectly smooth outer surface. Laika is made from both classic types of raw materials - the skins of lambs, kids, foals and dogs, and from non-traditional ones - the skins of cats and rats. The skins are tanned using chrome, chrome-fat or aluminum tanning. Despite its softness and tenderness, husky is quite durable and wear-resistant. It is mainly used for the manufacture of gloves, decorative items and jewelry, much less often in the manufacture of light footwear and haberdashery. Laika does not tolerate moisture well, and after drying it loses its shape and properties. Laika products require proper care.

Nubuck (nubuk) – exquisite leather with very fine pile on the front side, has a porous “breathing” structure, and fairly high strength. Unlike suede, it is made from denser cattle hides, subjected to chrome tanning and sanding only on the front side. It is mainly used for the manufacture of men's, women's and children's shoes and as a furniture material, less often for sewing outerwear. In order for nubuck products to last longer and maintain their appearance, they require careful care with special products.

Nubuck-oil (nubuk-oil) – nubuck with additional fat impregnation. It has a characteristic oily surface and a slightly vintage look, but is practically insensitive to moisture and is easy to clean. Shoes made from nubuck oil are more practical and durable.

Crazy (Crazy leather) - Exquisite leather with an elegant matte finish and a pull-up effect. Unlike nubuck, after sanding it undergoes a special stretching treatment and a wax coating. This treatment gives the effect of lightening and “floating” the color in places where the skin is stretched. It is also used for making shoes and as a furniture material.

Morocco ( Morocco leather) – high-quality, specially tanned leather, stamped and dyed in rich, bright colors. Made from sheep and calf leather, it is highly durable, resistant to dirt and mechanical damage, and has an elegant, rich appearance. Used for making stylish bags and accessories, decorative items and jewelry.

Split (Split leather) – natural leather material obtained by mechanical separation – sanding – of natural leather into layers, usually from 3 to 6 layers. Chromium and chrome-fat leathers of cattle and pigs are subjected to exfoliation. By lamination, the front, middle and back (bakhtarmyan) splits are obtained. Thin grain splits are used to produce high-quality haberdashery and photo leathers. Thick front and middle splits form split velor, used for the manufacture of technical footwear, workwear and for the manufacture of furniture leather. Small splits and trimmings are used to make glue and technical gelatin.

Shagreen (shagreen leather) – dense leather with a decorative convex-grained texture of the front surface made of untanned leather. It was made from the saddle cloth of horses and kulans and painted green. Nowadays it is made from sheep and goat skin. Used primarily for decorative consumer goods and as industrial leather.

Galisha (French galuchat) – shagreen obtained from the skins of stingrays and sharks, which have a natural granular structure. It is used to make shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items and various accessories, decorative elements and souvenirs.

Kid (fr. chevreau, English . kidskin ) – soft, light, dense leather with a peculiar wavy pattern on the front surface. Traditionally, chevreau was made from thin chrome-tanned dairy goat skins and had properties similar to husky. Nowadays it is made from sheep, lamb and calf skins. Chevro is inelastic, waterproof and breathable. Due to its protective properties, it is one of the best materials for sewing shoes. It is also used to make various haberdashery items, decorative elements and souvenirs.

Chevrette (Chevrette leather) - elastic, viscous, dense and loose leather obtained from young sheepskin by chrome tanning. The pattern of the front surface resembles chevro, but is much less durable and of poorer quality. Used for the manufacture of outerwear, shoes and haberdashery. To increase strength, loose chevrette is treated with polymer and other materials. A more durable type of chevrette, better suited for sewing shoes, is obtained from the skins of sheep of coarse-wool steppe breeds.

Cordovan ( Cordovan ) – durable, strong, elastic exclusive vegetable tanned leather with a shiny smooth front surface. It is made from separate sections of horse hide by very long hand-dressing (about 6 months). Cordovan is waterproof, durable, easy to clean, and retains its shine for a long time. Used for sewing exclusive men's shoes.

Famous Indy boots from the American company Alden.

Artificial substitutes for natural leather

Leather MF ( Microfiber synthetic leather ) – an artificial substitute for genuine leather based on microfiber - the finest synthetic microfibers of polyester and polyamide. Microfiber (MF) is characterized by lightness and high strength, it is plastic and springy, resistant to light and chemicals, allows the formation of materials of various structures, including textiles and knitwear, and does not accumulate static electricity. MF leathers have excellent water resistance and breathability, are resistant to abrasion, retain color and shape well during long-term use, are easy to clean and do not absorb dirt, have virtually no odor of their own and do not perceive foreign odors.

MF leathers are almost indistinguishable from genuine leather in appearance. This effect is achieved through high-quality imitation of the texture of the front and back sides of the skin. MF leathers are free from congenital and acquired surface defects characteristic of natural leathers. When making MF leather, you can obtain almost any texture, color, and decorative effects on rolled material of various widths.

MF leathers are used for casual and sports footwear, as well as furniture and automotive leathers. The use of MF leather allows us to save the lives of animals raised for their natural leather.

PU leather ( Polyurethane leather ) – a high-tech multi-layer product based on defective genuine leather. The damaged outer layer of genuine leather is replaced with ultra-fine fibers made of high-quality polyurethane (PU) - this is how PU leather is obtained. PU leather has through pores and the properties of a “breathable” and hygroscopic material, it is lightweight, resistant to mechanical stress, and tolerates low temperatures well. PU leather manufacturing technology allows you to obtain the front layer of any colors and textures without compromising the breathability and ductility of the material. Often, products made from PU leather look more attractive than those made from genuine leather.

PU leather is used to make elegant outerwear and lightweight clothing, dress and sports shoes, haberdashery, jewelry and decorative items, as well as furniture and automotive leathers.

Camera case made of Polyurethane leather

PVC leather, vinyl leather ( Polyvinyl chloride, Vinyl synthetic leather ) – material made of monolithic or porous polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applied to a fiber base. The basis of vinyl artificial leather can be fabric, knitwear, various types of non-woven materials made from natural or synthetic fibers. The properties of vinyl artificial leather for a specific purpose - strength, flexibility, extensibility, springiness, fluidity, drape - are ensured by the use of various base materials. The density of vinyl artificial leather is given by impregnation with polymer compositions. Thus, by varying the bases and additional processing methods, it is possible to obtain vinyl artificial leather with any predetermined properties. Vinyl leather is waterproof, resistant to abrasion, retains its color and shape well during long-term use, is easy to clean and does not absorb dirt, has no odor of its own and does not perceive foreign odors.

Vinyl leather is used for the manufacture of elegant outerwear and lightweight clothing, youth fashionable clothing, underwear, dress and sports shoes, haberdashery, accessories, jewelry and decorative elements, as well as furniture and automobile leather.

Eco leather (Eco leather) – a material made of microporous “breathable” polyurethane applied to a fabric base made of natural or polyester materials. A unique material that has all the best qualities of natural leather and does not have its disadvantages. It has excellent hygienic properties, does not require special care, is durable, lightweight and wear-resistant. Visually indistinguishable from genuine leather. As the thickness of the polyurethane layer increases, the quality and performance properties improve, but the hardness of the eco-leather also increases.

It is used for sewing clothes and linen, dress and sports shoes, haberdashery, accessories, household items, jewelry and decorative elements, as well as furniture and automobile leather.

• Special artificial leather substitutes:

Faux suede (Artificial chamois) – textile imitation of natural suede, material made of cotton and polyester fibers on an adhesive basis. To protect against moisture and contamination, the material is coated with Teflon coating. To impart rigidity, the material is laminated on one side - subjected to high-temperature gluing to the substrate. Retains its shape and properties when washed and after drying, is resistant to temperature changes, and does not cause allergic reactions. In appearance it differs little from its natural counterpart, but is more durable and does not require special care. It is used for hats, lightweight inexpensive shoes and various accessories, car interior trim, as well as in the production of furniture.

Artificial nubuck (Artificial nubuck leather, Synthetic nubuck leather ) – imitation of natural nubuck made of PU leather. In appearance it is almost no different from its natural counterpart, it is more resistant to moisture and dirt, and does not require special care. Mainly used for making shoes, haberdashery and accessories.

Patent faux leather (Synthetic patent leather) – artificial leather with the front surface coated with varnish. Made from all types of artificial leather. With high quality, it is in no way inferior to natural analogues, but is cheaper and less demanding in care. Varnish artificial leather is used for tailoring clothes, hats, haberdashery and accessories, making men's, women's and children's dress shoes, interior decoration, as well as in the production of furniture. Quality depends on the manufacturer and type of material.

Stretch leather (Synthetic stretch l weather) - thin, elastic, springy material. Made from all types of artificial leather. Stretch vinyl artificial leather and eco-leather are more common. It is used for sewing clothes, concert costumes and various accessories. Looks impressive and does not require special care. Quality depends on the manufacturer and type of material.

Leather print (Synthetic p rinted leather) – material with a pattern applied by one or a combination of different methods. Made from all types of artificial leather. When making leather prints, embossing, engraving, applying various inclusions, varnishing and many other techniques can be used. Artificial leather prints are significantly superior in range to their natural counterparts.

Perforated leather (Perforated s synthetic leather) – material with holes cut or punched through its entire surface. Made from all types of artificial leather. It is used in making shoes, outerwear, haberdashery and accessories, in the production of furniture and car finishing.

Leather with embroidery ( Embroidered s synthetic leather ) - material with patterns embroidered on the front surface. Made from all types of artificial leather, except PU leather. Unlike natural analogues, artificial leather can be easily processed on industrial and household sewing machines. The range of artificial leather embroidered with complex patterns, lace and ribbons is very large. Artificial leather with embroidery is very widely used in tailoring, hats, accessories, interior decoration and furniture making.

Examples of descriptions of leather goods in stores

Now let's try to move from theory to practice. We will try to look at different products in stores and try to apply what we have learned.

For example, let's look at the description of these boots in the popular LLbean store.

The description clearly states the use of bison leather without any tricks.

By zooming in on the photo we can see the texture of the skin.

Let's look at the bomber jacket from Alpha Industries. The description also clearly indicates the use of natural sheepskin.

Boots Dr. martens 1461. The description clearly indicates the synthetic origin of the materials. However, these boots are unlikely to be of poor quality.

Sometimes in stores information about materials is not given explicitly. Terms such as "Premium leather" may be used. At the same time, anything can be meant by this term. From any type of genuine leather to regular leatherette with some kind of processing. As a rule, stock stores with discounted goods are not very scrupulous in these matters. For example, here are women's boots from the 6pm store. The description doesn't say anything about the leather itself, it just says "Premium".

Therefore, it is advisable to make purchases in such stores when a person already knows the product he is buying and has an idea about it.

Conclusion

I hope that this material was interesting and useful for readers of the resource.

Now, reading the description of a particular product, the buyer will be more interested in the material and pay less attention to the marketing gimmicks of some stores.

Having replenished his baggage of “consumer” knowledge with the above information, a person will be able to understand the product being purchased much better, having greater erudition, he will be able to pass by something with a calm soul, and become quite reasonably interested in something. Perhaps someone will approach purchases much more consciously, not buying things of mediocre quality, just because of the price at sales. Knowing about the properties and characteristics of a particular type of leather, a person will be able to choose a product that will most fully meet the buyer’s requirements. In the end, there is no such thing as “harmful” knowledge :)

34 comments

• After a recent review, in addition to my disagreement with its author, I wondered, but in some ways the author of the review is right, how does the average person know that “Premium leather” is not what it seems at first glance :-)

  Therefore, I asked Dmitry to understand this difficult issue both for himself and for our readers. In my opinion, the article turned out to be good and comprehensive. I’ll definitely keep it in my bookmarks and use it as a cheat sheet.

  Dmitry, thank you very much :-)

It is not uncommon to find in the description of bags, jackets and other leather and leatherette products that the leather in this product is PU. The first thing that comes to a potential buyer’s mind is that this bag is made of cheap leatherette or leatherette. But for some reason, even famous manufacturers do not shun the use of PU leather in their products, and often advertise this fact as an advantage. And sellers on Aliexpress sometimes even consider PU leather to be completely natural.

Sellers themselves get confused. See lot.

There is also a confusion of concepts, how they differ:

• PU leather
• PVC (PVC) leather
• Eco leather
• Presskozha
• Cheap "Soviet" leatherette

Our article on the site will answer these questions. So let's get started.

How is artificial leather made?

Genuine leather, in our usual understanding, is whole animal skin, cleaned and processed in a certain way. In the manufacture of products, sections of skin from specific animal organs can be used, and the product itself can be assembled from pieces of leather. But these pieces will be quite large, cut from whole animal skin.

Artificial leather can be very different. But conditionally it can be divided into two groups:

• completely artificial leather, which is made entirely from polymer materials, possibly using a woven base,
• artificial leather using tannery waste, when waste from processing natural leather (trimmings, leather dust) is crushed, pressed and glued into a single piece

Polymer materials such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, nitrocellulose can be used in the manufacture of any leather. Both with and without genuine leather content. Moreover, polyurethane can also be used as a coating for natural, but not very high-quality leather.

Fully artificial leather

Artificial leather is produced entirely chemically without the use of tannery waste.

• mix the necessary mixtures (plasticizers, stabilizers, dyes, etc.) until a homogeneous texture of the required density is obtained,
• apply to the base to obtain a texture that imitates leather,
• in the case of leatherette, apply the resulting mixture to a cotton base,
• fix in the oven
• apply external coating
• in the case of the production of modern high-quality artificial leather, there may be several layers, including a layer of foamed polymer to obtain the necessary sensations from the leatherette fabric,

The quality of such completely artificial leather depends on the materials used. That is, it depends on what kind of polymer is used: PVC, PU or nitrocellulose. And also on the base material, number of layers and coating.

When making artificial leather, there are 2-3 mandatory layers (base, filling, coating) and various materials can be used as them. Fabric base, PVC filler, PU coating (for example). The combination of these materials will change the properties of artificial leather dramatically. And this is very important.

Artificial leather from tannery waste

Also sometimes this kind of leather can be called Presskozha. Tannery waste is crushed and mixed with a chemical paste for bonding, after which the leather can be applied to a polymer or woven base and coated with a polymer for wear resistance.

In some cases, the manufacturer may call such material genuine leather. However, it is not.

Pressed leather is no better than completely artificial leather and of course it is absolutely not genuine leather. A lot of chemical mixtures are used in its production; it is not environmentally friendly and is allergenic. Such leather does not breathe well, and without a high-quality base and coating it quickly becomes unusable.

If you compare pressed leather and modern PU leather, it is better to prefer PU leather.

What is PU leather (PU leather)

PU (PU, PUR) is a polymer Polyurethane (Polyurethane), an artificial material obtained as a result of certain chemical processes. Due to its properties, polyurethane is widely used in industry. It is used to make seals, adhesives, sealants, machine parts and much, much more. Depending on the manufacturing method (formulas, ingredients), polyurethane has different mechanical and temperature characteristics. But in general it is very resistant to wear and temperature changes. In general, polyurethane does not lose its specified properties in the temperature range from -60 to +80 degrees Celsius.

A distinctive feature of polyurethane is the ability to create a porous material that can breathe and remove moisture. This is especially critical when making clothing and footwear from PU materials. However, you need to understand that just the presence of the phrase “PU leather” does not mean that this leather breathes.

Based on PU leather, a manufacturer can understand a whole range of materials. It can be either completely artificial leather on a polymer or fabric base, or pressed leather with PU coating (see above in the article). If, for example, PU leather is applied to a PVC base or an intermediate layer is made from PVC, and PU was used only to cover the outer layer, then such leather will not breathe. And you won’t find the main marketing advantage of “breathable” artificial leather in this product.

The same can be said about leather made from tannery waste with PU coating.

On the other hand, high-quality fully artificial PU leather has a number of positive characteristics:

• extremely wear-resistant,
• breathes
• allows water to pass through (wicks away sweat),
• tactilely similar to natural leather,
• does not burst in the cold,
• no chemical odors,
• not allergenic,

Based on the above, we can draw the following conclusion. Faux PU leather is good. This is a high-quality material that can be preferred to genuine leather. However, PU leather comes in many different varieties. And the manufacturer of PU leather may mean a material that you did not expect. It is often very difficult to determine the quality of PU leather in a product before purchasing.

What is Eco leather

Eco-leather is a colloquial, marketing name for PU leather. After all, it is necessary to explain to the consumer that PU leather is not disgusting leatherette, in which everything sweats and stinks of chemicals, but a new modern material, no worse than natural leather.

What is the difference between PU leather and PVC leather?

PVC (PVC, PolyVinyl Chloride) is a common plastic in its plastic form. Roughly, in general, PVC-based leatherette is a flexible plastic attached to a woven or non-woven base. This is that classic leatherette that makes your butt sweat. Hard, rough, but cheap and durable.

PVC leather is still widely used in the manufacture of various products. Often, a layer of PU leather is applied to the outer layer of PVC leather, resulting in the tactile sensation of PU leather, but cheaper.

What is leatherette

This is not a popular name, not slang, but the real name of the material. In fact, it is a fabric with a layer of nitrocellulose applied to it. Nowadays this material is practically not used due to its extremely low wear resistance. Everyone who lived in the USSR remembers the worn leatherette tables and chairs. It is because of this tendency to abrasion that they abandoned the use of leatherette.

How to distinguish artificial leather from natural one

High-quality PU leather can hardly be distinguished from natural leather without damaging the product. It will not smell of chemicals, and if desired, it can be scented with leather. When you touch PU leather, it also becomes warm.

And in the case of low-quality leatherette, you can use standard methods:

• touch. Press your warm hand tightly onto the material, natural leather will quickly heat up, but will not fog up (it allows moisture to pass through).
• drop water, on natural leather the drop will be absorbed, and the leather will darken (the same will happen with PU leather)
• cut, if you can find a cut, look for a fabric base - a clear sign of artificial leather. You can also look for simple bundles.
• the smell, everything here is clear without words. Genuine leather will not smell like chemicals, but artificial leather will easily smell like natural leather.

There are other ways to determine the naturalness of leather. Write your favorite method in the comments.

Finally

One of them is made of PU leather.

PU leather is an excellent material. There is no need to be afraid of it and look only for genuine leather, especially if we are talking about consumer goods. Often, a bag made of PU leather will wear better and please its owner longer than the same one made of genuine leather.

In chapter Other to the question what does PU material mean asked by the author Satenik Santrosyan the best answer is When purchasing leather products, many people come across the term PU Leather.
PU Leather is a chemical product – artificial “leather” based on polyurethane. That is, it is a synthetic material very similar in structure to natural leather, and not inferior in strength. And it also allows you to “breathe” like natural leather.
Another additional plus is the colors... Products made from pu leather can be given any color, which cannot be done with genuine leather.
As a minus - after all, it is a polymer... artificial and “afraid” of fairly high temperatures (a little information on temperature: when applying, for example, drawings, labels and other tinsel to products made from PU Leather, they recommend 130-160℃. So the minus is not that already significant, since it can withstand such temperatures).
Dermantin and vinyl leatherette - this can be considered the last century.
So don’t be afraid and take it with confidence - the quality of pu leather is no worse than genuine leather.
Source: http://v4w.in/chto-takoe-pu-leather-rasskazyvayu/