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With rising ethical and cost-related concerns for the use of natural leather, many manufacturers now prefer using synthetic leather. In fact, the synthetic leather market is estimated to reach US$136.7 billion by 2022.

 

Where is it coming from?

Demand is increasing from various industries. This notably comes from end users who mostly apply the material for sports shoes, handbags, furniture, automobile interior and other sports goods. This includes end users from countries with most amount of consumers, including USA, Germany, France, China, Southeast Asia and Brazil.

What’s most popular?

Among the many types it comes in, PVC and PU are the most wanted. This is reflected in the rank of most demanded synthetic leather materials, which are (in order of demand) PVC, Normal PU, Microfiber PU and Ecological Function PU.

No surprise here because of the various advantages including cost efficiency, durability and variety. This also applies to both PU and PVC leather. The use of PU and PVC leather in upholstery, fashion pieces and other products are not solely for cost efficiency. The rising demand also comes from the added values brought. Learn more about PU and PVC leather here.

And it really is taking over the world

Global demand is increasing with a rate of 6.9% during the forecasted period of 2017-2022. This is why the market valuation is predicted to reach US$136.7 billion by 2022. Out of the countries mentioned above, the automobile industry is leading the chart holding 40% of global synthetic leather demand. Additionally, Asia Pacific is the most vastly growing region for synthetic leather market, due to increasing population from China, India, Vietnam and Thailand.

The two most common kinds of synthetic leather are Polyurethane (PU Leather) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC Leather), as we have discussed here (link to previous article). Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, PU and PVC are actually different in many ways.

Let’s breakdown the structures of both types. As they are man-made, PU leather and PVC leather do not come from animal skins. PU leather consists of a split leather backing, topped with Polyurethane coating that gives the fabric a finish similar to natural leather, with similar flexibility too. PVC leather, or sometimes simply called Vinyl, is made out of fabric leather backing, topped with a foam layer, skin layer and then a plastic based surface coating.

 

The Differences

Structure. As previously explained, PU leather and PVC leather differ in their structures. PVC has more layers underneath its coating, making it tougher and more durable. PU, on the other hand, has less layers, making it more pliable and flexible to work with. PU can even wrinkle and stain like natural leather would while PVC can stand more extreme wear and weather condition.

Breathability. Due to its foam layer underneath its surface coating and skin layer, PVC leather is much less breathable than PU. This gives PU leather the advantage when it comes to being the preferred material for wearable clothing items. However, since PU leather has more pores on its surface, this gives PU leather the risk of absorbing stains and other unwanted particles. This is why most upholstery uses PVC leather instead.

Durability. PVC’s multi-layer structure and lack of pores, as compared to PU leather, makes the material more durable than PU leather. This is why PVC leather is mostly used in upholstery and footwear. Utilising PVC leather could result in additional product lifetime as well.

 

Which One to Pick?

By now you have gained all the information you need to differentiate between PU and PVC. But how do you decide which material to use? The answer to that is simple: pay attention to your product’s functionality. Does it need to look realistically leather-like? Go for PU. Will you need it to be pliable and flexible? Go for PU. Do you need it to be durable and not have it look too similar to natural leather? Go for PVC.

Either way, synthetic leather is the perfect substitute for natural leather. Not only do they come in realistic leather-like finishes, they are also durable and helps you cut down production cost. To learn more about synthetic leather, click here.

You have seen it in stores, you have seen it online: “made of synthetic leather”, and you can’t help but think of how good the material looks and feels. But what is synthetic leather actually and why does it go so well with everything?

Since the 19th century, the world has gone wild for how synthetic leather can substitute real leather for almost anything you can imagine. Leather jacket, leather boots, leather handbags, leather sofas, you can now have them all for cheaper without sacrificing quality. Still, many end users find synthetic leather as a ‘less than’ material due to their lack of information.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about synthetic leather.

1. What is it?

Synthetic leather is a material substitute for leather, used in various industries such as fashion, interior design, you name it. With the rising concerns for cost efficiency and animal welfare, synthetic leather has been in the spotlight as the perfect solution. Not only because it cuts down production costs, but because the material itself is durable enough to be comparable with genuine leather, with an added benefit of its hassle-free (or unnecessary, in some cases) maintenance.

With so many methods discovered, this natural leather substitute now comes in various materials, structures and finishes. The two most popular constructions are Polyurethane (PU) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). The two types are different in their own ways and are suitable for various uses. You can learn how PU is different than PVC here (link to next article).

 

2. How do you use it?

Due to its ability to be produced in various finishes, the material can be used for almost anything. Its most popular uses are fashion pieces such as leather jackets, pants, footwear, handbags and small leather-finish goods. It is also used for home decor, as upholstery and furniture design.

 

3. Why choose synthetic leather?

The reasons can go on a long list, but here are the most beneficial advantages you will get.

 

Cost. Without a doubt, synthetic leather will help you cut down cost of production for all your products. There are now manufacturers spread all over the world that would bulk-produce whatever material and finishes you need. Cheaper cost not only means that the products are going to be cheaper for your end users, but it also means that you will get an opportunity to have a wider margin. Talk about win-win solution!

Ethics. More often than not, the production of natural leather requires processes that usually lead to the mistreatment of animals. Many manufacturers are now opting for a more ethical solution and that’s where synthetic leather comes in.

Variety. Natural leather is limited in finishes and colours. With synthetic leather, you can create leather-like material with whatever colour, texture and finishes you need.

Durability. With its lack of pores and plastic based materials,  synthetic leather gains durability that values much more than its low cost. Most synthetic leather also has no pores, making it more durable than natural leather. Also, it requires very little to no maintenance at all.

Curious to learn more? Check out our product catalogue to see the various types of synthetic leather that we offer!