My Cart
Your Shopping Cart is Empty
GENUINE LEATHER VS FAKE LEATHER
|
posted by Nirmal Banerjee
When buying a new leather bag or accessory, you should know how to tell the real thing from the fake. Unfortunately, with developments in synthetic or imitation leather production, it is difficult for consumers to distinguish between authentic and fake leather. As genuine leather bags in India are luxurious and priced higher, you don't want to fork out premium prices for faux materials.
Sure Shot Ways To Tell Fake Leather From Genuine Leather
If you want to steer clear from faux leather products, here are some helpful tips:
1. Always Check The Label
All branded goods have labels mentioning the brand/company name. Genuine leather products are no different, and they will have labels indicating such. There is a slew of faux leather products on the market, and credible leather product manufacturers are eager to highlight that their items are the real deal.
Their product labels will mention that they are selling genuine material. An authentic leather bag's label will proudly say 100% genuine leather, top-grain leather, or natural leather, which also comes with a higher price tag than imitation material.?
On the other hand, if the bag or accessory has no label or if it says "manmade material," it’s most likely manufactured from PVC (flexible polyvinyl chloride.)Some other terms to stay away from include:
- Faux leather
- PU leather
- Leatherette
- Vegan leather
- Pleather
- Ocean leather
- Cork leather (Bark of cork trees)
- Ocean leather (Comes from kelp)
- Piñatex (Manufactured from pineapple leaves)
Genuine Leather products from any credible company will always bear either “Genuine Leather” embossing , usually for small items like Wallets etc. or a “Leather tag” , made from the original leather used in it, usually for large items like Bags. If you don’t find this when you receive the goods, just return it’ However, if you feel that relying on the product labels is not a firm ground for you, there are other ways to determine their authenticity.
2. Scrutinize The Product
Take a closer look at the product. Authentic leather is made from real animal skin (natural material) and will not have a uniform surface. Even the most well-finished genuine leather bags and walletswill have few imperfections and blemishes, a signature of genuine leather.
Contrastingly, faux material surfaces are unnaturally perfect. They have regular and uniform textures, indicating that they are artificial. However, many modern, flexible PVC manufacturers have taken the imitation game a step further. These materials now come with faux grain patterns and textures to lend them an authentic look and feel. Therefore, you will need to delve a little deeper into your research before making a purchase decision.
3. Do A Touch Test
The touch test is standard when purchasing products in stores. It's an excellent way to determine whether the product's material is comfortable enough to use or wear. You must carry out a similar test touch when purchasing leather bags; it will help you differentiate faux products from real ones.As mentioned earlier, genuine leather bagswill have an imperfect texture, wrinkle a bit, be warm to the touch and have some "stretch." On the other hand, faux leather will have an unnaturally cold, excessively smooth, and non-stretchy feel.
4. Look Closely At The Pores And Edges
If the item’s texture seems too perfect, sans any pores, it is probably faux! The lack ofpores makes fake leather impervious to water.
Contrastingly, genuine, naked-finish (without any surface coating) leather will immediately absorb water because of its pores. Natural leather surfaces have an inconsistent, irregular pore pattern and raw, coarse edges, while fake leather products will be just the opposite, with perfectly smooth edges.
Since faux leather has a cloth or other material backing, it can’t be skived at the folds and stitching edges. It’s why fake leather stitching can never match the finish of genuine leather. You can clearly see this imperfection if you zoom in on the fake leather product's image.
5. Take A Whiff Of The Product
While it may seem embarrassing or odd to stand in a store, whiffing one leather bag after another, it’s an essential step to take. Authentic leather has a distinct natural, skin-like, organic smell that even high-end machinery cannot replicate.Since there is no reliable way to replicate the natural leather smell, it is a significant indicator for distinguishing genuine from faux. The latter will have a chemical or "plasticky" odor, which is hard to miss.
In Closing…
You wouldn’t want to spend a considerable amount of money on a faux leather product, making it necessary to distinguish between the two materials. Another aspect that comes into play today is that many people purchase genuine leather bags and wallets in India online, making it impossible to carry out the touch and smell tests.
Therefore, buying what you need from a credible brand like LeBanz that stands by its products becomes all-important. Fake is not a word that exists in the LeBanz dictionary!We source our leathers from the best Indian tanneries, run every product through stringent quality checks, and bring to market premium yet affordable genuine leather bags and wallets for men and women.
0 comments