Decoding PVC Leather A Substitute for Traditional Leather

In the fashion and upholstery world, one comes across many items labeled as ‘leather’ but they are not all the same. Is Pvc leather real leather? Genuine leather is made from animal hides and is characterized by its durability and natural qualities. However, PVC leather (also known as synthetic or faux leather) is a popular substitute due to its unique features. 

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) leather is an artificial material designed to resemble traditional leather but consists of a mixture of plastic polymers, fillers and additives. It involves coating a fabric backing with either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride followed by various treatments to obtain desired texture and appearance. The key attributes of PVC leather are highlighted below:

Water Resistance: Unlike traditional leathers that can be damaged by water, PVC leathers have high ability to resist water thus being ideal materials for outdoor furniture and accessories that may get wet.

Easy upkeep: Minimal effort is required in the maintenance of PVC leathers; most times using a damp cloth simply does the trick without requiring any conditioning like real leathers do.

Affordability: Being synthetic products, PVC leathers are generally less expensive than genuine ones hence they can be afforded by many people.

It prevents cruelty against animals: For those who seek ethical consumption choices, there are fake alternatives such as PVC which don’t necessitate the use of animal skins unlike authentic hidings when making such commodities.

Versatile patterns: The range of colours and designs possible for synthetics makes them more flexible in design than natural hides which have such inherent markings and variations.

Lighter: Some types of clothing or bags meant to be worn for extended periods may include this type since it weighs less.

Last longer than real leathers do: Real leathers however, develop a patina with time while PVC leathers tend to maintain their finishing for prolonged periods without much change in appearance.

Is PVC leather real leather? This is not real leather but rather an artificial substitute that has several advantages such as water resistance, little maintenance needed, affordability and variety of designs just to mention but a few. Although serving as a practical alternative to genuine leathers, the nature of each type has to be weighed against specific requirements of application due to differences in qualities between them.