Vegan leather and faux leather are the same thing—essentially a fake 'leather' material that does not use animal skin.
There is a range of materials that can be used to make vegan leather, including synthetics like plastic and natural materials such as cork.
The most commonly used materials for synthetic leathers are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), which are plastic-based materials. Another term for fake leather is "pleather,” which comes from the term plastic leather.
These two commonly used synthetic materials in particular have raised questions about the safety and dangers of vegan leather to the environment. Very few vegan leathers are made from natural materials, although it is possible to find more eco-friendly products made from materials like cork, kelp, and even pineapple leaves.
HOW IS VEGAN LEATHER MADE?
Synthetic leather is produced with different chemicals and a totally different industrial process than real leather. Bonding together a plastic coating to a fabric backing is the most common way to make faux leather; the types of plastic used in these coatings vary, and this is what defines whether it is eco-friendly.
Although PVC is in much less use than it was in the 1960s and ’70s, it can still be found in the composition of some vegan leather. PVC releases dioxins, which are potentially dangerous in confined spaces and especially dangerous if burned. It also uses plasticizers such as phthalates to make it flexible. Depending on the type of phthalate used, it's extremely toxic. It has been described by Greenpeace as the “single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”.
The more modern and slightly less damaging plastic is PU, which is constantly being technically developed to reduce its flaws, such as the hazardous toxins it releases during manufacturing and the oil-based polymers it’s made with, which make use of fossil fuels.
WHAT DOES VEGAN LEATHER SMELL LIKE?
Vegan or faux leather that is made with PVC or PU often has a very strange smell from the chemicals. It’s often described as a 'fishy' smell and can often be very hard to get rid of, especially while trying not to ruin the material. PVC can also emit dangerous toxins that give off this nasty smell.
WHAT DOES VEGAN LEATHER LOOK LIKE?
Vegan leather comes in several forms and qualities, so some are more 'leather-like' than others. Generally speaking, and focusing on good-quality vegan leather, there isn’t that much difference to real leather. However, as vegan leather is synthetic, it doesn’t form a patina like real leather does when aging, and it is much less breathable as the pores that are printed onto the surface of pleather are artificial.
VEGAN VERSUS REAL LEATHER:
The main concern for most people when deciding between vegan and real leather is the impact it has on animals and the environment. However, while the term vegan leather might imply an environmentally friendly product, this is not always the case.
IS VEGAN LEATHER BENEFICIAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT?
Faux leather is known as vegan leather because the material used is never from animal skins. Although this is a huge benefit for animal activists, the manufacture of synthetic leather is not beneficial to the environment or humans due to the toxins in the plastics used to make it. The manufacture and disposal of PVC-based synthetics let out hazardous dioxins, which can cause developmental and reproductive issues and even cause cancer. The synthetics used in vegan leathers also don’t fully biodegrade; although they can be broken down to a degree, they can also release toxic particles and phthalates, which can affect the health of animals and the environment.
VEGAN LEATHER IS BETTER THAN REAL LEATHER.
Quality and durability are also important things to consider when comparing vegan and real leather. Vegan leather is often a lot thinner than real leather and much more lightweight, which is great for fashion as it makes it potentially easier to work with; however, it also makes it less durable than real leather. Real, good-quality leather can last decades when cared for, whereas you might only get a year or so out of a pair of shoes made from good-quality faux leather. This is an important factor when deciding between fake leather and real leather, as the environmental impact of replacing a fake leather product multiple times is arguably more damaging than the purchase of one real leather item.
Synthetic leathers also wear out very unattractively, whereas real leather ages over time and forms a patina, which is considered to add character to the leather.
Faux leather, especially PVC-based, isn’t breathable either, whereas real leather has pores through which the skin is able to breathe. So for clothing items such as jackets, vegan leather can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time.
In addition to environmental factors, faux leather is typically a lot cheaper than real leather products. This is because it’s cheaper to produce synthetic plastic leather than it is to produce real leather. The craftsmanship of leather products is a highly skilled job, and bespoke leather products such as sofas, jackets, and luggage can cost thousands of dollars. Manufacturers are able to command these prices because they are considered both high-quality and highly durable.
MAINTAINING VEGAN LEATHER
As vegan leather is made with a plastic coating, it is already waterproof. This makes it easier to clean by using a mild detergent or just by wiping it with a damp cloth; however, it also means that conditioning products can’t penetrate it to stop it from drying up and cracking, which can happen if the fake leather is in the sun a lot and also if it’s particularly poor quality material. However, you can get certain products that will cover the surface of the plastic to prevent high temperatures and sun rays from cracking the surface. Such products can also help soften the material.
HOW TO REPAIR VEGAN LEATHER
You can replace or patch up the damaged area with a faux leather repair kit that can be bought online; they’re easy to use and suited to different types of faux leather.
Is Vegan Leather Good Quality?
Vegan leather can come with different standards of quality, and as with real leather, the higher the quality, the longer it will last. Faux leather is generally a lot cheaper and of lower quality than real leather, even at a high standard. Vegan leather is ultimately much less durable than real leather and tends to be thinner, so it’s not uncommon for it to tear or scuff badly over time.
HOW TO UNWRINKLE VEGAN LEATHER
It is important that you do not try to iron wrinkled vegan leather by putting the iron directly on the material. The method you should use to remove wrinkles depends on the quality of the material. Because synthetic 'pleathers' have plastic in them, they do not mix well with heat, and it can often ruin the product completely. High-quality faux leathers can be steamed to remove wrinkles if protected with a sheet, towel, or lining, as they are much more forgiving against heat. However, there still should be a lot of care taken when doing this. It is important that you don’t heat your fake leather for more than 30 seconds.
HOW TO SHRINK VEGAN LEATHER
METHOD:
1. Wash the item in your washing machine on warm to clean off the article and prevent any contamination from 'baking' into the plastic material of the pleather.
2. Put the polyurethane item into an old pillowcase and tie off the top with a shoelace or piece of string to prevent it from falling out. Materials like this may get hot enough to stick to the dryer’s drum, damaging the jacket and making a mess, so avoid this happening at all costs.
3. Set the dryer on high. Let the cycle go for about an hour. Allow the jacket to cool off, and then test-fit it. Repeat the cycle as needed, using progressively shorter drying times until satisfied.
CAN YOU STRETCH VEGAN LEATHER?
Faux leather does stretch, but not as much as real leather. You need to be careful when trying to stretch fake leather because it increases the risk of it cracking, so it’s best to avoid it altogether.
Can you digest vegetable leaves?
Trying to distress faux leather will more often than not result in damaging the item. Most people tend to create a distressing effect on faux leather using thin layers of acrylic or fabric paint; thick layers can result in vegan leather cracking and peeling the top layer entirely. Be sure to use paints or dyes suitable for the material, as solvents often eat away at the pleather.
Remember to test the paint on a small, inconspicuous area of the product first before applying it all over.
METHOD:
1. Prepare the pleather surface by wiping it down with a clean cloth to remove any dust or dirt particles. For a thorough clean, it’s recommended to wipe the product down with pure alcohol.
2. Once clean and dry, your vegan leather product is ready to be dyed with upholstery paint. Please see the instructions on the paint product for the recommended drying time.
Remember to test the paint on a small, inconspicuous area of the product first before applying it all over.
HOW TO SOFTEN VEGAN LEATHER
Vegan leather is less permeable than real leather, and therefore traditional leather conditioning products have little impact on softening the material. Vinyl conditioner is typically recommended for softening faux leather and should be applied with a soft cloth in small circular motions. The excess conditioner should then be removed with a clean cloth before leaving the product to dry. The process can be repeated until the desired level of softness is achieved.
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