How to Tell if Leather is Real?
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Water Test
Real leather, unless it's been waterproofed, absorbs a few drops of water. On the contrary, fake leather repels water.
Fire Test
For this test, find a small, hard-to-see area to examine, like the underside of a couch. Hold a flame to the spot for 5-10 seconds to conduct the test:
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Real leather will only char slightly, and smell a bit like burnt hair.
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Faux leather will actually catch flame, and smells like burning plastic.
Look Closely
Leather’s surface structure isn't completely uniform and often includes blemishes and imperfections. Surprisingly, imperfections in leather are considered desirable. Real leather originates from animal skin, making each piece as unique as the animal it came from. In contrast, fake leather usually shows a consistent pattern, perfect edges, and a uniform texture.
Touch it
Real leather is a natural material. When you run your fingers across it, you'll notice it doesn’t feel perfectly smooth. Press into the leather, checking for creases and wrinkles. It should wrinkle under your touch, much like real skin. In contrast, synthetic materials typically remain rigid and maintain their shape when pressed. Faux leather should also be difficult to bend, unlike the real thing.
Smell it
There is no reliable way to fake the smell of real leather. Real leather carries a distinct natural aroma, unlike the plastic scent of faux leather. A genuine leather product should emit a natural smell characteristic of animal hide.
Identifying Real Leather: A Guide
Check the Label
Products labeled as genuine leather typically represent the lowest grade of leather, often composed of leather scraps, such as bonded leather and may only include a small percentage of real leather.
So what should you look for when reading the label?
If you see anything labeled as: bonded leather, PU leather, vegan leather, pleather, leatherette, ocean leather, pinatex leather, or synthetic leather and man-made material- it’s not real. Honest leather products proudly display labels like "100% real leather" or "full/top grain leather."
Also, check the price tag. While everyone loves a bargain, real leather usually comes with a higher price compared to faux leather. So, if the price seems too good to be true, it likely is.
Telling the difference between real and fake leather can pose a challenge, especially with the advancements in synthetic materials. It's becoming increasingly difficult to spot a fake.
What is morer, some products labeled as 'genuine leather' or ‘made with genuine leather’ may contain only a portion of real leather. These terms are often used by marketers to mislead buyers. If you're aiming for high-quality leather goods, you must be able to tell genuine leather from synthetic on your own.
In the following sections, we'll outline few steps to help you determine if leather is real.
COMPANY
MdotM.leathercraft@gmail.com
P.P.H.U. Majkowski
NIP: 1250084257
05-270 Marki
Zygmuntowska 10A