What is eco-leather for bags?

Nowadays there is a wide selection of eco-leather bags on the market. Not everyone can afford products made from natural materials. But a high-quality eco-leather accessory will be a worthy alternative.

What kind of material is eco leather?

Eco-leather is a high-quality substitute for natural leather. The properties of the artificial analogue are close to the real material. The base of the product can be cotton or polyester. There are also mixed options. The top of the product is covered with a polyurethane film. It has pores, which ensures breathability.

Modern technologies do not stand still, so new developments have undeniable advantages. Thus, eco-leather is considered much better than leatherette, and in some characteristics it is superior to natural prototypes.

Important! In the production of eco-leather, advanced technologies, the latest knowledge in the chemical industry, and high-quality modern equipment are used.

Compound

Eco leather has a soft texture. It is quite elastic.It consists of a base, which is represented by cotton, polyester film or a combination of these materials. A polyurethane film is applied on top of the leather substitute.

Eco-leather has good hygienic properties. This is determined by production technology. The film coating forms pores, allowing the material to allow air to pass through. The base can be treated with a spray of leather dust. Often the composition includes crushed waste of natural leather.

Polyurethane film takes up no more than 20% of the total composition. Other types of leatherette have a top coating of polyvinyl chloride. The solid composition is softened using plasticizers. These additives gradually begin to evaporate during the use of products made from artificial materials. As a result, the coating becomes hard and begins to crack.

Important! Polyurethane itself is a fairly elastic material, so it does not require any additives. Eco-leather items will last a long time without losing their properties.

Advantages and disadvantages

Eco-leather occupies a middle position between genuine leather and its substitutes. As a result, the environmental analogue borrowed the pros and cons of both materials.

Advantages of eco-leather:

• safe for the environment and people, does not cause allergic reactions, which is explained by the absence of plasticizers in the composition;
• does not deteriorate during use (no cracks, abrasions or other deformations appear);
• pleasant to the touch, thermal conductivity close to wood;
• hygiene, the material allows air and steam to pass through;
• resistance to sub-zero temperatures (can withstand up to -30 degrees);
• does not fade in the sun;
• has a pleasant texture that resembles natural leather;
• a large selection of colors, products of different shades are presented;
• easy care that does not require a lot of time and expensive funds.

The disadvantages of eco-leather include the impossibility of repairs. If you accidentally cut the material, the fabric base will immediately become visible. It cannot be hidden by sanding, glue or impregnation.

How is eco-leather different from leather?

There are several ways to distinguish eco-leather from leather. Thus, artificial material has no odor, unlike natural material. In addition, real leather has a tactile sensation that is denser and thicker, and also has a rough edge. The edge of the artificial product is even and smooth to the touch. Tensile testing of materials can be performed.

Bend test results:

• After manipulations that change shape, natural leather quickly returns to its original position;
• eco-leather slowly resumes its shape;
• natural material does not change its color when pressed;
• The ecological substitute changes color in the place of stretching by several tones.

The pores of real skin have a chaotic arrangement. In eco-leather, they are arranged in precise order, all cells have the same shape. The skin does not burn, but the replacement immediately begins to melt. But this is an extreme way to check the naturalness of a product. In addition, some manufacturers treat real materials with special impregnation, which can ignite.

When is it better to choose an eco-leather bag?

Eco-leather bags have undeniable advantages. They are UV and frost resistant, so the accessories can be worn at any time of the year.. Animals are not killed to produce bags, which is often a decisive factor when purchasing such a product. Because of this, many famous designers have abandoned genuine leather and use only its substitutes.

Caring for a bag made of eco-leather is as simple as possible. Simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Then you need to wipe the product with a dry towel.

In winter, there is no need to be afraid that the bag will begin to crack due to frost. The material tolerates sub-zero temperatures well. This bag can last for a long time. During operation, no abrasions, cracks or other deformations appear. Eco-leather does not get wet, so there is no need to worry about the contents of the bag getting wet in the rain.

How is it finished?

Eco-leather consists of two layers. The top covering can be painted in different colors and stylized to resemble leather. Embossing can be used as processing. The prints resemble snakeskin, crocodile and other varieties. To obtain a smooth surface or unusual patterns, laser processing is used.