Leather jackets have been around us since the early 1900s, and they have recently begun to become one of the chicest and coolest vogue products again, and more and more individuals are buying them.
They are historically linked with strong, masculine personalities. Women are also lovers of genuine leather jackets. They are luxurious, well-made, and obviously, costly.
So, when you decide to purchase a leather jacket, you must avoid buying an artificial leather jacket at a high price. Telling the contrast between faux and genuine leather jackets can be difficult, particularly when unaware of what to seek.
In today’s blog, we will share different ways that will assist you in easily differentiating between real and synthetic leather jackets.
What Is Original Leather?
Leather is a material that has been with us from the beginning. It is one of the oldest substances used to cover human bodies.
It is created of genuine animal skin, including goatskin, sheepskin, cowhide, horsehide, lambskin, buffalo skin, etc.
There is also exotic leather obtained from animals considered more lavish and valuable. These chiefly include leather from the crocodile or snake.
Grades Of Leather
Leather has several styles and grades; they vary in quality, feel, look, grain, and durability.
● Full-Grain Leather
The most prevalent kind of leather, considered the best, is full-grain leather. It is the sturdiest and toughest part of animal hide.
It is robust and has a grainy feel. The leather’s smooth surface is breathable owing to the pores.
● Top Grain Leather
It is considered to be the 2nd best quality leather. The sole contrast between top-grain and full-grain leather is the surface.
The surface of top-grain leather is sanded to eliminate flaws. It is as sturdy as full-grain leather.
● Real Leather
It is low-quality leather crafted by buffing out the animal hide’s top. It is then stripped down to bring out various leather layers. Then, it is imprinted with grains to offer it a great look.
● Bonded Leather
It is the cheapest quality leather. It has polyurethane, but it still lies beneath genuine leather. The leather is produced from leather scraps’ pulp.
Then, it is attached to the paper backer or fiber and covered with polyurethane.
Then, it is stamped with a leather-like texture for an original appearance. It is mainly 10 percent to 20 percent leather.
What Is Faux Leather?
Artificial, PU, faux, or synthetic leather does not lie under the leather types. The material is created of polyurethane attached to a fabricated base.
The fabric looks exactly like real leather but is different in feel and quality, and the patina pure leather is notorious.
Grades Of Faux Leather
Like original leather, faux leather also has many styles and grades; their processing nature differs from each other.
● Vinyl Upholstery
It is manufactured of two different synthetic materials, vinyl and polyester fibers. The fibers are coated with vinyl to provide a waterproof finish. Plus, it is easier to clean because of its smooth and nonporous look.
● Protein Leather
It is made of protein powder together with resin to create flexible sheets. It is a sort of artificial leather that is most popularly used in headphones and car seats.
Besides, it is available in several high, medium, and low qualities. The greatest quality leather is used in car seats owing to its sturdiness.
● Silicone Upholstery
This faux leather type is new to the synthetic leather game. It is famous for its eco-friendly nature and is easier to make.
● Polyurethane Upholstery
Polyurethane upholstery is used in making leather jackets and high-end car seats. It looks like real animal skin, so it is not easy to differentiate.
It is crafted of polyurethane covered on a backing fabric, like polyester or cotton, which is treated to imitate genuine leather.
How To Check The Quality Of Leather Jacket?
Here are the finest ways to determine whether leather outerwear is fake or real. These ways will also assist you in checking the quality of a leather jacket.
● Type Of Leather
First, you need to determine the leather type you require. You must comprehend the characteristics of each leather type.
These details are helpful for choosing the right outerwear. Some coats are hard, soft, thin, or thick.
● Smell The Leather
The smell is a remarkable indicator to identify the leather. A faux leather jacket smells like plastic or chemicals, while an original leather jacket smells organic and natural.
The majority of folks love real leather because of its special odor. Once you smell pure leather, you can effortlessly pinpoint the smell for a lifetime because it is addictive and distinct.
● Check The Texture
As jackets are manufactured of organic materials, they have a texture full of grains. They preserve the steer hide’s full-grain pattern. The pattern is unique, plain, and smoothest.
On the flip side, faux leather is created of artificial chemicals and plastic, so it has an asymmetrical pattern. Ensure to inspect the pattern cautiously before buying the real leather jacket.
The pure leather jacket’s texture will not be uniform and will have flaws. The surface of a faux leather jacket will be uniform and regular.
● Check The Weight
Another easiest way to recognize whether or not the leather jacket is real is its weight. Weight is the major dissimilarity between an artificial and original leather jacket.
Real leather, such as cowhide and lambskin, is heavy than faux leather. Moreover, a pure leather coat will last longer than an artificial one.
● Water Test
Another fast approach to identifying a real leather jacket is to do a water test. Genuine leather absorbs water because of the existence of pores.
Dark patches will be noticeable where dampness presents until water vaporizes. Put a few drops of liquid on the leather jacket’s surface; if it absorbs it, it means it is original leather.
It is faux leather if water drops stay at the jacket’s surface. Of course, you can’t test new outerwear in the store. So, it is better to ask storekeepers if they have an added piece for these sorts of quality tests.
● Bend The Jacket
Another way to differentiate between a real leather jacket and a faux leather jacket is to bend it. Hold the jacket in your hand and bend it. If it is genuine, it will wrinkle and modify color.
However, if it is artificial, it will retain its chemically changed color while keeping a crisp and hard texture. The original leather is flexible; therefore, it bends effortlessly under stress. However, faux leather is stiff, hard, and inflexible.
● Examine The Borders
Real leather has rough and uneven borders, while synthetic leather does not. Unlike original leather, artificial leather has a smooth and definite finish. A real leather jacket has bristly edges and natural imperfections and flaws.
● Fire Test
This technique is extremely risky, so you should try it only if you own the jacket. Grab the jacket’s edge and close it with fire.
If you notice a plastic odor, it is a faux leather jacket. However, it is a real leather jacket if you don’t notice any smell.
Faux leather easily catches fire, whereas original leather is fire-resistant because it is made of organic materials.
Conclusion
Regarding leather, genuine leather is a luxurious material in every way. Only pure leather can offer the leather’s look and sturdiness.
Concerning outerwear manufactured of leather, real leather is the go-to material. Faux leather is cheap and less sturdy, and outerwear created of artificial leather is less desirable.
