A Guide To Leather

Written by Administrator June 02, 2006

Leather has been a very popular material for clothing, as well as upholstery for many years. With its sensuous and classy look, it seems that leather is never out of fashion. Leather furniture is not only stylish, but also very long-lasting. However, along with its increasing popularity, the concerns of animal rights groups, who protest against the extensive use of leather in clothing and upholstery manufacturing, are also increasing. Several leather alternatives have been developed in response to these concerns.

Here are some of the most popular types of leather and leather alternatives:

Pigmented leather

Pigmented leather is both good-looking and durable and its often used for upholstery. Pigmented leather is buffed to reduce imperfections, then pigments are applied to its surface to colour it. In the end, a finish coating, generally polyurethane, is applied to improve its resistance to stains. Pigmented leather has an uniform colour and is very resistant. It is recommended for daily-used furniture.

Aniline leather

Aniline leather looks even more beautiful than pigmented leather, but it also needs more maintenance. Generally, this type of leather is not corrected and it shows all the wrinkles and markings of natural leather. Occasionally, light wax is applied to the leather surface.

Bi-cast leather

Bi-cast leather has long been used for shoes, belts and purses, but its use in furniture making is a more recent development. This type of leather is obtained by splitting the leather thickness into two portions - a top grain and a split grain. Adhesive is applied to the split grain and a coloured film is laid above it. This film is pretty easy to scratch, but it does result in a resistant leather type.

Faux leather

Faux leather is more environmentally friendly than real leather.

Faux leather is extensively used in the manufacturing of clothing, shoes, purses and upholstery. It is more environmentally-friendly than real leather and comes in many styles, often mimicking animal skins and prints. The different models and colours available provide a good alternative, especially for vegans.

Leatherette

Leatherette is an alternative to real leather. It is made of fabric coloured with cellulose nitrate to make it look like real leather. The material looks very good and can often be used effectively as a replacement for actual leather.

Although they may not look as good as real leather, leather replacement materials reflect a more environmentally-conscious attitude. Both leather and leather alternatives are a popular choice for furniture and clothing. New techniques are being developed for an even higher resistance and durability.

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