Photographs: Shutterstock
Architect Mrunmayi Wadwekar gives simple tips that will help you identify the difference between real and fake leather.
- Pure leather can actually be divided into four types like full grain leather, top grain leather, genuine leather and bonded leather in decreasing order or quality and price.
- Full grain leather is made from the topmost layer of animal skin and is the costliest while bonded leather is the lowest of original leather and is made up of using discarded pieces and bonding them together.
- Another way to identify real from fake leather is to check the tag that mentions the product specifications.
- Real leather will have scratches, wrinkles and creases since it’s an animal skin while leatherette will have a uniform looking surface.
- Pores in leather are irregularly spaced and sized while those in leatherette are uniform.
- Leather has a distinct smell which is easily identifiable unlike leatherette that does not give out a distinct smell.
- On pulling the material, leather will stretch and wrinkle while leatherette might depress retaining its shape and form.
- Real leather soaks in water while leatherette will drain it instantly due to the waterproof coating feature.
- Look for the unsewn, open edges of the material. Real leather will have strands or threads poking out unlike leatherette which will have a clean edge.
- Leather has colours like brown, beige etc. whereas bright unnatural colours like neon, fluorescent are a sign that it might be leatherette.