Difference between real leather and faux leather: Top 4 easy tests!

Actually I am very glad that people can buy Armani even if it's a fake. I like the fact that I'm so popular around the world. - Giorgio Armani

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This is true for leather products, which are known for being expensive and premium. And thus the birth of faux leather took place.

Faux leather, or fake leather, is a material that resembles leather but is made from a synthetic framework. The birth of faux leather took place because it is cheaper than real leather. However, the quality is lower than the original as well.

The other day, while I was shopping through a very high-profile shopping market in New Delhi, I was shocked to see many artificial leather ladies handbags sold to customers in the name of pure leather bags! While I knew the way to differentiate one from the other, many people still don't know this and pay a huge sum of money only to be suffering later.

To enjoy a pleasurable shopping experience, you should know the difference between real leather and faux leather. Always check the label to check for real leather and 'man-made material'. Notorious marketers may sell you faux leather products in the garb of claiming it to be real leather. It is therefore necessary to understand the pros and cons of the two. Simple tips and tricks can help save you lots of money.

Faux leather comes in many forms after getting industrially treated with wax, dye, and various other chemicals to develop variable color and texture. As it's a factory-made product, the fabric has an ordered tone throughout its design.

Let's check out simple tests to spot the difference between genuine leather and faux leather:

1. The Smell Test

Real leather has a distinct smell; synthetic leather smells 'plasticky' and doesn't have that rich, premium feel to it.

Visit premium luxury leather stores and acclimatize yourself with the smell and feel of a genuine leather product in order to differentiate it from the fake ones.

2. The Touch Test:

Pure leather is generally soft. The texture of a genuine leather bag feels good to the hands. The leather hide feels flexible and the colors produced are rich and vibrant. Genuine leather has better elasticity than synthetic leather.

Artificial leather is normally rigid and rough. If you touch and feel faux leather products, the colors are dull and lifeless. If it's excessively smooth and feels like plastic, more often than not it is one.

Pure leather reacts to sensitivity and is generally warm. Faux leather will generally be cold.

Have you ever noticed scars on a vintage leather bag? Those are probably real scars that were present on the animal skin. This is also a way to tell a real bag from an artificial one. Similarly, if you scratch a pure leather bag with your fingernails, there will be some scratch marks on it that prove its true worth.

3. The Pore Test:

Pores tell a lot about the fabric. Manufactured items like synthetic leather have uniformly placed pores. Even the boundary of a faux leather product is coherent.

On the other hand, pure leather has inconsistent pores and its edges are rough.

4. The Heat Test

A real leather product will not change shape if it brought closer to heat or fire. There may be slight shrinkage when it is cooled but will regain its natural shape in some time.

A faux leather product, meanwhile, will contort easily. It can even burn if it's taken extremely near to the fire source. Therefore, every precaution must be taken while carrying out this test.

Therefore, whenever you plan to check out leather products in the future, I hope you make an informed choice and shop at Rustic Town Collection for vintage leather bags and accessories at affordable rates.

Adios. Cheers.

XOXO