What is better eco leather or artificial leather?

Eco-leather or artificial leather – which is better?

Many people, of course, prefer natural ones, but such material is difficult to manufacture, it is not cheap, and therefore not every person has the opportunity to purchase high-quality items. In such a situation, you can choose products at lower prices, made from cheaper materials, the properties of which are close to genuine leather.

In modern times, a lot of synthetic materials have appeared that are used for the production of furniture, clothing, bags, etc., it is very difficult to choose a truly high-quality item from the whole variety of products so that the price-quality ratio coincides with the desires of consumers.

Let's try to figure out which material is better - eco-leather or artificial material. Faux leather is made from polyvinyl chloride. A layer of PVC is applied to the fabric. To make the product softer, more elastic and wear-resistant, chemicals are used in the production process.

Important! Plasticizers and stabilizers used for the production of artificial leather are not harmless to human health; it is because of them that the leatherette emits an unpleasant odor.

In modern times, artificial material is especially popular, because the scope of its application is vast, and it costs much less than natural material. Leatherette is used to make clothing, shoes, bags, gloves and many other accessories.

Often furniture upholstery consists of artificial leather; leatherette is also perfect for finishing rooms, for example, for insulating and improving the appearance of doors. In addition, leatherette can be chosen in any color, which provides additional opportunities for the flight of imagination of room designers or the most daring decisions in tailoring. Artificial leather is often used for upholstery of personal car interiors or for public transport.

Reference! Leatherette has high strength, resistance to adverse environmental influences and combustion.

Eco-leather consists of a layer of polyurethane on a fabric base made of 100% cotton. The process of its manufacture resembles the same as in the production of artificial material, but there is still a significant difference.

Eco-leather does not contain any substances harmful to health; it is made from environmentally friendly raw materials, which is why it deserves its name. At the end of eco-leather production, the output is a soft, plastic and fairly durable material that can be purchased at an attractive price.

Important! Eco-leather is absolutely safe for health and is an excellent substitute for natural leather if a person suffers from allergic reactions to materials of natural origin.

Eco-leather is very difficult to distinguish from genuine leather, so the demand for such products is growing every day. High-quality materials have always been in demand on the market, and eco-friendly material has all the beneficial properties of a material of natural origin, and even to some extent surpasses a product made from natural raw materials.

For example, eco-leather “breathes” better than natural leather that has undergone acrylic treatment. It is used for sewing clothes, making shoes, furniture, car upholstery, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages

Eco-leather has many advantages:

• Thanks to many micropores, eco-leather allows air to pass through well, which allows the epidermis to breathe.
• Low price for eco-leather products, compared to genuine leather.

Important! The pristine appearance of products made from eco-leather is almost no different from products in the production of which natural materials were used, but you can buy them much cheaper.

• Only environmentally friendly raw materials without toxic substances are used. Constant wearing of eco-leather clothing cannot cause any harm to human health. In addition, unlike leatherette, ecological leather does not have such an unpleasant odor, because no harmful chemicals are used in its production.
• Eco-leather is capable of self-recovery after surface deformation. Naturally, if the product breaks or undergoes mechanical damage resulting in a cut, nothing will happen on its own without human intervention.
• Eco-leather is often chosen by consumers, for whom humanity and human generosity towards “our little brothers” are important. Compared to natural leather, the production of eco-leather does not require killing animals for personal gain, which is a fundamental factor when choosing quality products of synthetic origin.
• Limitless possibilities for designers in choosing colors. Nowadays you can find eco-leather products in various shades.
• Easy to care for. To keep things in perfect condition, expensive products and additional effort are not required. To remove stains, you can use an ordinary soap solution, and to wipe off dust, any damp cloth will do.
• Although eco-leather breathes well, it does not allow moisture to pass through. Its micropores are too small for water to get inside.
• Ecological leather can withstand sub-zero temperatures, and at the same time not lose its shape. In hot sunny weather, a product made from eco-leather does not overheat; it is comfortable to wear such clothes, despite any weather conditions.
• This material is flexible when cutting and sewing, eco-leather is very pleasant to work with.
• Does not cause allergic reactions.
• Upholstered furniture upholstered in eco-leather can be placed anywhere, compared to leatherette, it is not afraid of overheating from heating devices or other heat sources.

With all its advantages, eco-leather also has some disadvantages:

• Ecological leather is not suitable for people who want to show their high position in society with chic, expensive things. A rich person is unlikely to look for a replacement for natural leather and use eco-leather in clothing or furniture, since it is generally accepted that the more expensive the material, the better the quality.
• Even the highest quality eco-leather cannot compare in wear resistance with genuine leather. Of course, a product made from ecological leather can last quite a long time, but over time the appearance ceases to please the consumer. Therefore, if a person plans to buy something for permanent use and for many years, then preference should be given to natural materials.

Important! Eco-leather is an excellent alternative to natural leather, since it contains almost all the signs and properties of products of natural origin, but most importantly, it is humane towards animals and is in the middle price category, accessible to people with any financial situation.

Advantages and disadvantages of artificial leather

Faux leather has a large list of disadvantages compared to eco-leather:

1. It practically does not allow air to pass through.
2. Leatherette does not retain heat well in cold weather and does not provide a feeling of comfort in hot weather.
3. Although artificial leather has some strength, just like eco-leather, it is subject to deformation and is not highly wear-resistant.
4. Faux leather is not as pleasant to the touch as natural or eco-leather.
5. It is not recommended to place artificial leather near heating devices, because during the heating process it begins to release toxic elements that are dangerous to human health.
6. Unpleasant smell.

Despite the disadvantages, leatherette plays an important role in the production of furniture, clothing and other products, since in addition to the disadvantages, this material also has many advantages:

1. Low price. Faux leather is really very cheap, and can last for several years in its original form with proper care and careful use.
2. Faux leather can be found in various colors. Bright, rich shades, play of colors - all this is available with leatherette.
3. Does not allow moisture to pass through.
4. This material is very simple and easy to care for.
5. When cutting, leatherette does not create much trouble for craftsmen.
6. Attractive appearance.

Important! Of course, the competition between artificial leather and genuine leather occurs on unequal terms. But, it has the main main advantage - an excellent parody of real leather at a low price.

Let's sum it up

Of course, eco-leather is much better than leatherette and surpasses it in many properties. However, you should not retire leatherette; due to its low cost, this material will remain relevant for a long time and will be in demand on the market.

For example, a person very often changes bags or some items of clothing. In this case, leatherette is ideal - why spend a huge amount of money every season if next season you want to change your look, and for this you are going to completely change your wardrobe. Although you shouldn’t follow fashion so blindly - quality things have always remained a priority and have always been fashion trends in any season.

Each reader will decide for himself what is better for him - artificial or ecological leather.We hope that this article will help you make the right choice so that you enjoy not only the optimal purchase price, but also unsurpassed quality.