Artificial leather is available in various types and is a popular choice for furniture and clothing. It has experienced significant growth in popularity due to its high flexibility and elegant appearance. Here are three of the most popular types:
Synthetic leather
Pleather is the term used for an inexpensive material that is popular in the manufacturing process of artificial leather goods. It is a relatively lightweight material compared to real leather and is made from a variety of plastic materials. The most common materials to create synthetic leather are PVC and polyurethane. PVC products are easily marked and the material may begin to harden after cleaning, especially if a dry cleaning service is used. Polyurethane-based clothing or furniture is much easier to clean and maintain. This type of artificial leather is easy to dye, which means that the products can come in practically any color.
Naugahyde
Naugahyde is a type of vinyl-coated material with characteristics that closely resemble real leather. This artificial leather is used primarily to cover furniture, but it can also be considered a popular choice for a wide range of waterproof toys, clothing, and seat covers. It has a finish that looks a lot like real leather and feels quite soft to the touch.
Vegan leather
Vegan leather is a fairly common type of artificial leather that is popular in the production of shoes, clothing, and accessories. There is a wide range of products that can be used to make vegan leather. The most popular choices include polyurethane, PVC, paper, waxed cotton, glazed cotton, bark cloth, and cork. While this fabric is animal friendly, the actual manufacturing process used for several of the materials is not considered the most environmentally friendly.
Benefits of artificial leather
There are a variety of reasons to consider using artificial leather over real leather. For one thing, items made from this type of leather are significantly more affordable. Also, there are many people who prefer to avoid buying real leather items because it is more animal friendly. However, this type of leather can still be made to look quite real and realistic. During the manufacturing process it is possible to make variations in texture, color and grain. This helps create a look that is quite similar to genuine leather. In addition, it is very durable and better able to withstand abuse from children and pets.