How To Distinguish Between Faux Leather Jackets and Real Leather Jackets?

Leather has remained a timeless material that people use for multiple things, such as from furniture to fashionable jackets. It becomes increasingly difficult for people to identify genuine leather items because of faux leather creation. So, how can you learn to differentiate between faux leather jackets and real leather jackets?  The following information can make you sure you don’t buy faux leather jacket. Also, you can identify the signs of a real leather jacket with this guide.

Understanding The Basics

It is important to understand the basics of real leather and faux leather before anything else.

Real Leather

Real leather jackets refer to jackets made from animal hides, mainly from cow hides, snake skins, and more. Real leather materials are derived from multiple animals, ranging from cattle to rare animals like snakes, ostriches, and alligators.

• Realleather maintains its durability while having a special texture that enhances its appearance over time.
• It often feels soft and flexible, natural leather has a natural smell that many people connect with quality. Real leather is also more breathable.

This makes it comfortable to wear in different weather.

Faux Leather

Faux leather also has two other names, synthetic leather and vegan leather.

• The manufacturing methods for faux leather rely on polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) components to create an artificial material. Faux leather is available in various imitations of real leather in appearance. It is cheaper than genuine leather and does not require the use of animal skins in its production.
• The manufacturing process of faux leather allows companies to produce it in different finishes and color options that fit many usage requirements. Real leather allows better breathability through its material structure than synthetic leather does. The material declines in value through different mechanisms than a natural leather product. Also, it doesn’t age the same way.

So, the comfort plus lifespan of the material might be influenced by this factor.

How to Distinguish Between Faux Leather Jackets and Real Leather Jackets?

So, here we go.

Check the Price

Periodically check the jacket price because its cost reveals whether it contains real or faux leather. Normal leather jackets have prices that match their premium value; both material quality and expertise contribute to the high price point of these products.

A low price may indicate the product is made of faux leather. A good-quality real leather jacket typically costs much more than a faux leather one.

Feel the Texture

Jacket texture serves as an indicator of whether your jacket contains real leather or faux leather.

• Real leather shows its natural surface pattern along with a smooth touch that offers nice flexibility. A genuine leather jacket contains tiny surface imperfections since these marks authenticate its authenticity.
• Faux leather differs from the real version because it has a smooth touch and a surface like plastic. Running your fingers across the surface could let you know if it is a faux leather jacket. This is due to its slickness and shine.

Look for Labels

Many brands clearly label their products. Information about fabric composition can be found under the jacket tag.

• Real leather appears on product labels as “genuine leather”. “Top grain” and “full grain” also represent genuine leather. The terms indicated on the product label confirm the leather jacket came from animal hides thatreceived minimal processing.
• The faux leather material can be identified through its alternative tags thatinclude “synthetic leather” alongside “PU” and “PVC.”

You can perform an instant search on the internet about the brand to obtain more information regarding its materials when you are unsure. The brands may also reveal their materials and list them explicitly on their website platforms.

Smell the Jacket

The smell presents as an additional option that can help in identification. Real leather jackets usually have a distinct scent that attracts several people to their pleasant quality. Faux leather has an outdoor quality scent with chemical like properties. The chemical odors in faux leather come from plastic substances that create this smell.

The chemical smell and artificial odor on the jacket indicate it comes from synthetic materials. Through this method, you will be able to properly tell the difference between faux leather jackets and real leather jackets.

Check the Weight

Real leather jackets usually have heavier weight compared to those made of faux leather. This is because real leather is a stronger and thicker material. A jacket without adequate weight suggests it contains man-made materials.

A heavier jacket is often a sign of real leather.

Examine the Stitching and Construction

Carefully examine both the stitching and construction of the jacket, as a leather jacket made with precision is a common characteristic of real leather jackets. A quality touch can be seen in neat and uniform stitching when examining the jacket structure.

The poor crafting quality of faux leather jackets results in stitching that appears uneven while threads remain loose on the final product. A real leather jacket maintains a robust and heavier touch. The material quality of faux leather sometimes produces a flimsy feeling.

Check for Breathability

Real leather is breathable; a distinctive property of real leather is its breathability, which creates a comfortable body temperature. Your body stays cool and dry when you wear a real leather jacket. This is because natural leather allows airflow.

Faux leather remains less effective for maintaining air circulation through its material. So, faux leather jackets lead to stuffy sensations on the body.

Observe the Aging Process

Another big difference is how the two materials change over time. Real leather develops a unique patina. This means it gets better with age and gains character and beauty.

The lifespan of faux leather material decreases when it starts peeling away and develops cracks. This damage to the material occurs most prominently after exposing it to heat and sunlight. You should pick real leather when you want to invest in a product that will maintain its quality over time.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out whether a jacket is faux leather or real leather doesn’t have to be hard. You can easily tell the difference by checking the different things mentioned here. This knowledge will help you make a better choice.