In daily life, leather products have become an indispensable part of us. Whether it’s bags, shoes, or clothing, many of them are made of leather. However, leather comes in two types: genuine leather and synthetic leather. With the continuous improvement of technology, many synthetic leathers now look almost identical to genuine leather. But genuine leather is more expensive and performs better. If you’re not good at how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, you might end up paying genuine leather prices for synthetic leather, which would be too costly. Today, let’s share a few methods for how to tell the difference between real and fake leather. If you’re not sure, just follow along with me to learn more!
Understanding Real vs. Fake Leather
First, let’s understand what genuine leather is and what synthetic leather is.
Genuine leather is made from animal skin through processing. It has natural textures and a distinct smell, and it’s soft, breathable, warm, and more durable. Synthetic leather, on the other hand, is artificially synthesized from chemical materials. Its texture is relatively hard, and it lacks the natural textures and smell of genuine leather. In fact, when learning how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, we can use their characteristics to tell them apart.
1. Look at the Texture
We all know that genuine leather is made from animal hides, so it is very similar to human skin. If we pay close attention to our own skin, we will notice that it has many pores, which vary in size and shape, with no apparent regularity. Therefore, when identifying how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, we can also observe whether the surface has many pores. If these pores are of varying sizes and irregular shapes, then it is genuine leather. On the other hand, synthetic leather, being artificially made, does not have pores. Even if it does, these pores appear very regularly arranged.
Moreover, we can also fold or squeeze the leather with our hands. Genuine leather has excellent resilience, and the creases will quickly disappear after folding. However, if it is synthetic leather, after folding, it does not rebound as quickly, and the creases are also difficult to fade. From this point, we can determine whether it is genuine leather.
2. Smell the Odor
When purchasing leather products, we can also smell them. Genuine leather, after processing, still retains some of the natural smell of animal hides. However, after processing, this smell is very faint and may even be undetectable. On the other hand, synthetic leather is made from chemical products, so it will have a strong, pungent chemical odor, or a plastic-like smell. Therefore, when learning how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, if an odor is detected, it is not genuine leather but synthetic leather.
3. Check the Water Permeability
To master how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, we can also use the water drop test. Simply place a drop of clean water on the leather product and observe. Genuine leather has better breathability, so it is more absorbent. When water droplets are placed on genuine leather, the water will gradually seep into the leather. Conversely, synthetic leather is not breathable. If water droplets are placed on it, there will be no penetration, and the water droplets will remain intact on the surface. Through the water drop test, we can also easily determine whether it is genuine leather.
4. Feel the Texture
To complete our guide on how to tell the difference between real and fake leather, we can also identify it by touching and feeling the texture of the leather. Genuine leather is softer and more elastic, providing a more tactile sensation. Synthetic leather, being artificially made, has a harder texture. Although it is smooth, it does not feel elastic when touched, similar to touching a plastic surface. Moreover, if you press it, it will immediately create a dent with very slow rebound speed.
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