When shopping for leather goods, having a background knowledge in quality and authenticity is important for ease and an overall positive experience. When examining the item, there are a few important indicators that distinguish real leather from fake leather, or PU (polyurethane), or for animal loves - vegan leather. Leather is made from organic materials while fake leather is synthetic and much cheaper. Some fake leather items are made with part real leather and marketed as full genuine leather, so technically they would still be advertised as real leather and normally these are what are called bonded leather.
Generally, real leather is going to be more expensive than synthetic leather. The source of the leather itself causes variation in price, such as buffalo leather being cheaper than cow leather. There will also be a distinct smell to real leather, one that is earthy. The texture will be rough, not smooth, and real leather will not stretch with force like synthetic materials. While synthetic leather may feel quite cool and hard, real leather is warm to the touch like skin and supple. As the product ages, there will be a glow and natural tanning of real leather, while synthetic materials always remain the same.
Another way to test leather is through fire. If real leather is put to a flame, it will burn and smell like burnt hair rather than catch into flames. On the other hand, synthetic leather will melt easily and smell like burning plastic. An additional, more destructive test is through saliva. Real leather is absorbent, and a bit of saliva on the product will absorb while on synthetic material it will just bead on top. This test is a bit less reliable because some real leather has a weatherproof coating to prevent water from absorbing. One last extreme test is to scratch with your fingernail or pierce with a needle. Real leather will scratch easily and kick up a fine powder onto your nail. A needle will not pass through real leather as easily as synthetic materials. Although we are listing some ways to verify the authenticity of leather, we are not suggesting you to burn or put saliva on your Story Leather goods!
Looking closely at the pattern of the leather and the assemblage of the product also reveals authenticity. Real leather should have a geometric, pebble like surface that is not uniform, the imperfections of the natural product as well as the random, uneven pores show the real nature of the leather. Synthetic leather will show uniform texture and even pores. At the seams, man-made leather, will be thin, plastic like, and have threads exposed. Real leather is thick and has rough, grainy edges. The lack of suppleness of fake leather will reveal needle holes, while real leather will have uneven holes close to the thread.
The lining of the leather is important as well. Many products attach a small tag with their logo, so the back is the perfect place to check. A suede lining indicates real, while a cloth or plastic lining is a dead giveaway of fake materials. Real leather goods will feel heavy in your hand, never feather light.
Sometimes, materials are made so well that it truly is hard to tell. In the end, it is best to buy your leather goods from a reputable seller to assure you are getting authentic, high quality, products.How To Tell The Difference Between Real Leather and Fake (PU) Leather
When shopping for leather goods, having a background knowledge in quality and authenticity is important for ease and an overall positive experience. When examining the item, there are a few important indicators that distinguish real leather from fake leather, or PU (polyurethane), or for animal loves - vegan leather. Leather is made from organic materials while fake leather is synthetic and much cheaper. Some fake leather items are made with part real leather and marketed as full genuine leather, so technically they would still be advertised as real leather and normally these are what are called bonded leather.
Generally, real leather is going to be more expensive than synthetic leather. The source of the leather itself causes variation in price, such as buffalo leather being cheaper than cow leather. There will also be a distinct smell to real leather, one that is earthy. The texture will be rough, not smooth, and real leather will not stretch with force like synthetic materials. While synthetic leather may feel quite cool and hard, real leather is warm to the touch like skin and supple. As the product ages, there will be a glow and natural tanning of real leather, while synthetic materials always remain the same.
Another way to test leather is through fire. If real leather is put to a flame, it will burn and smell like burnt hair rather than catch into flames. On the other hand, synthetic leather will melt easily and smell like burning plastic. An additional, more destructive test is through saliva. Real leather is absorbent, and a bit of saliva on the product will absorb while on synthetic material it will just bead on top. This test is a bit less reliable because some real leather has a weatherproof coating to prevent water from absorbing. One last extreme test is to scratch with your fingernail or pierce with a needle. Real leather will scratch easily and kick up a fine powder onto your nail. A needle will not pass through real leather as easily as synthetic materials. Although we are listing some ways to verify the authenticity of leather, we are not suggesting you to burn or put saliva on your Story Leather goods!
Looking closely at the pattern of the leather and the assemblage of the product also reveals authenticity. Real leather should have a geometric, pebble like surface that is not uniform, the imperfections of the natural product as well as the random, uneven pores show the real nature of the leather. Synthetic leather will show uniform texture and even pores. At the seams, man-made leather, will be thin, plastic like, and have threads exposed. Real leather is thick and has rough, grainy edges. The lack of suppleness of fake leather will reveal needle holes, while real leather will have uneven holes close to the thread.
The lining of the leather is important as well. Many products attach a small tag with their logo, so the back is the perfect place to check. A suede lining indicates real, while a cloth or plastic lining is a dead giveaway of fake materials. Real leather goods will feel heavy in your hand, never feather light.
Sometimes, materials are made so well that it truly is hard to tell. In the end, it is best to buy your leather goods from a reputable seller to assure you are getting authentic, high quality, products.