Velor and suede: their differences

Fabrics, as you know, are used not only for sewing clothes or shoes, but also in many fields of activity. The question often arises as to which fabrics are best used for what. There are many fabrics that are similar in appearance, but have completely different characteristics and features. In particular, suede and velor.

Definition of suede, velor, nubuck

The fabric is called suede, produced using fat tanning technology. It is made from elk or deer skin. In addition to the fact that it is soft, thin, and has a velvety surface, it is also very durable.

Important! Such products do not deform under the influence of the environment, do not become harder, and do not change properties after washing or any contact with water and detergents.

During the production process, natural raw materials are impregnated with animal or vegetable fats. I often use suede for making shoes, bags, and outerwear. It costs much more than its analogs such as velor or nubuck.

Velours – a natural material made from half-leather, pork or goat skins.It differs from suede in having a thicker pile on one side and absolute smoothness on the other. Velor is not very durable. Products made from it get wet quickly and tend to lose their shape. To avoid this, you have to treat the surfaces with specialized protective agents. Velor is used for sewing shoes, bags, wallets, hats, and outerwear.

Nubuck called leather obtained after chrome tanning and sanding. Cattle skins are used for the base. Nubuck is smoother than the materials described above and costs less. It is used in the production of shoes, bags, outerwear, even furniture.

Comparison of materials

They look very similar, so many people confuse these materials. Their main comparative characteristics are presented in the table:

	Suede	Velours
Velvety	On both sides	On the one hand, but with a thicker pile
Moisture resistance	Stable	May become deformed after contact with water, gets wet
Can be cleaned with soapy water	Can be cleaned with soap, does not deform, does not change structure	Soap solution is contraindicated; the fabric loses its original appearance and streaks may appear.
Price	Expensive due to complex production	Affordable price
Color	Color may have several shades	Plain
Smell	Has no odors	There is a smell of genuine leather
Surface properties	May have scratches and pores. Fingerprints and traces of contact with other objects do not remain	The surface has a solid structure, on which fingerprints constantly remain due to the fact that the pile is quite long and can change direction
Hemming of products	They don't bend	Bend in

Differences in materials in shoes

Some people prefer to buy smooth leather shoes, while others prefer shoes and boots with a velvety texture. It is already clear that the material for such products can be suede, velor, nubuck. Naturally, they differ not only in price, but also in quality.

Important! Externally, all of these materials are similar; not every buyer can immediately determine what the product is made of.

Attention! Fake suede leather is quite common. Sellers especially like to call velor shoes suede. In addition to the fact that suede is much more expensive than velor, it will also serve the owner of the product several times longer.

Due to the fact that velor shoes are prone to getting wet, they quickly lose their appearance and often come apart due to moisture. Suede is impregnated with a lot of fats and oils, as a result of which it literally repels any liquids from its surface. In wet weather, real suede shoes will keep you dry, warm, and comfortable.

How to distinguish velor from suede

To accurately determine which product is made of suede and which is made of velor, you should pay attention to several signs:

Low and shiny pile is a sign of suede, but you should not dwell only on this characteristic.
It cannot be perfectly smooth; there will definitely be natural scratches on it. But at the same time, there will be no marks left on the suede like on velor from the touch of your fingers.

When purchasing, be sure to inspect the cut of the product. Real suede is never folded or its edges are processed.

Suede, unlike velor, has a subtle but very noticeable smell of leather.

What's better?

It cannot be said that any of the materials under consideration are worse or better. It all depends on the quality of the fabric, the type of product and its purpose.Therefore, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of suede and velor.

Advantages and disadvantages of suede

Products made from this material have been popular for several seasons. They are comfortable and look stylish. Many consider the high cost of the material to be a disadvantage. But the price, fortunately, justifies the quality. You can select a number of advantages clothes, bags and shoes made from this material:

• exquisite appearance;
• complement any image;
• high quality products;
• shoes made of this material are considered more comfortable, as they quickly take the shape of the foot, but at the same time do not stretch or deform;
• the products do not get wet.

To the disadvantages Difficult care of things can also be attributed. But, on the other hand, any expensive, high-quality product requires an appropriate attitude. So don't be afraid of this.

Important! If you follow the care instructions, the item will delight the owner with its original appearance for a long time.

Advantages and disadvantages of velor

The advantages of velor include the following:

• affordable cost of finished products;
• aesthetic appearance;
• velor shoes and outerwear retains heat well and is suitable for wearing in cold weather;
• the fabric has a smooth, uniform texture and color;
• The material is quite durable and reliable.

But some disadvantages can also be identified. First of all, care is more difficult than suede. It is necessary to constantly treat the products with water-repellent agents, as they are prone to getting wet. And constant getting wet directly leads to deformation and loss of beautiful appearance.

Material care

With the differences between suede and velor, everything is now relatively clear, but the main question remains: how to properly care for products with pile.There are several rules that must be followed if you want to preserve things for as long as possible:

Before use, the item must be treated with a special impregnation. This must be done in advance, since it begins to act after 4-6 hours. It is needed to ensure that the fabric does not absorb dirt and moisture. It is even recommended to treat the surface three times during the day with an interval of eight hours.

For care you will need special brushes. As analogues, you can use erasers or zero sandpaper.

Before each exit outside, it is recommended to treat the surface with a protective spray.
If the product begins to lose color, then specialized dyes and creams for velvety natural fabrics will come to the rescue.

Such things should not be dried near a radiator or in the sun.
Products made from natural suede can be washed if desired, washed with soapy water and then wiped with a soft cloth.

When purchasing this or that product and deciding on the material, you should take into account what time of year it will be used and in what weather conditions. For example, spring shoes or a bag can be made of velor, but for boots and warm outerwear, natural suede is better suited.