When you look at our webshop you will see a lot of furniture with artificial leather. Faux leather has different names. You may be familiar with PU (artificial) leather, imitation leather, leather look or faux leather. Actually, the name says it all: artificial leather is art, imitation, counterfeit. So it is (often!) not real leather. And that has its pros and cons.
Advantages of artificial leather compared to real leather
- Animal friendly
- In some cases not moisture permeable (made from PVC or PVC/PU)
- In some cases breathable (when made from PU with microporous structure)
- Easy(er) to maintain
- Easier to keep clean
- Neutral in odor (compared to real leather)
- Dimensionally stable
- Colourfast (but vulnerable in sunlight)
- Cheap
Disadvantages of artificial leather compared to real leather:
- Less durable than real leather
- Can feel "cheaper".
- More sensitive to wear and tear than genuine leather
- Retains heat (can also be an advantage)
Artificial leather consists of a plastic that is applied to a piece of textile. That is why there are many options in colors, structures, patterns and shapes. The development of artificial leather always continues. Nowadays there are many artificial leathers that have a breathable effect and are difficult to distinguish from real leather. These artificial leathers are often made of polyurethane (PU) with a microporous structure. Faux leather that does not absorb moisture is often made of PVC or a combination of PVC and polyurethane.
As in the first paragraph, artificial leather is often not real leather. It is possible for a layer of polyurethane to be sprayed on a split leather underlay. In that case, artificial leather is also a bit real. What you see with the eye is art.
What is PU leather?
PU is an abbreviation for polyurethane. This material is applied to a surface, which can be made of textile, but also of split leather, for example (see blog What is leather? for the explanation of split leather).
Is artificial leather as good as real leather?
That depends! What do you want to use it for? Do you have children and do they make a mess (or do you still make a mess yourself)? Do you want to reduce the chance of circles? Then it is better to go for artificial leather. This material is easier to wipe off and less vulnerable to circles than real leather. In addition, artificial leather is a lot better for the wallet than real leather ;-).
What is skai?
Skai is a brand name from 1958 of the German company Konrad Hornschuch AG. This company produced artificial leather under the name skai (with lower case). Over the years, Skai became a generic name, just as Luxaflex has become for window coverings. If you are looking for skai furniture, you probably mean artificial leather furniture. So we can help you with that.
What is artificial leather suitable for?
You can use artificial leather for various purposes. Bee Dimehouse we use artificial leather for the upholstery of our furniture. Faux leather is very suitable for this. Faux leather lasts a long time with normal use. In addition to furniture, artificial leather can be used for many purposes. Think of shoes, jackets and handbags, for example. PU is also used in cars for the interior, or in shoe soles.
How should you maintain artificial leather?
In principle, you do not need to treat artificial leather. However, you can extend the lifespan of artificial leather with these tips:
- Keep artificial leather dry. Faux leather is normally supple and therefore elastic. If moisture dries on artificial leather, the top layer can become hard. If this happens, it can eventually crack. And of course you don't want that!
- Do not treat artificial leather with aggressive cleaning agents, but with a slightly damp cloth. Again: dry the artificial leather afterwards.
- It is possible to treat artificial leather with a special spray. After the treatment, there is a thin invisible layer on the furniture, giving you extra protection.
- Sunlight will always cause some discoloration. Keep artificial leather (and almost any other furniture upholstery) out of prolonged sunlight.
Have you decided and are you going for artificial leather furniture? Bee Dimehouse we are happy to help you. View our webshop for our artificial leather furniture!
