What Is PU Leather And Is It Vegan?

If you’ve ever looked into purchasing a leather product, there’s a chance you may have suffered from sticker shock…in which case it’s wise to look to a leather substitute. Enter, PU leather.

This covers what PU leather actually is, whether it counts as vegan, and what to check before buying a piece labeled that way.

That said, what is PU leather made from? ..

What is PU Leather?

PU stands for polyurethane, which is a key ingredient in this material. In some cases, PU leather is an artificial product using a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients (also known as Faux Leather). Manufacturers often use the fibrous part of the cowhide leftover from the genuine leather manufacturing process and coat it with a layer of polyurethane.

In appearance, it can look very similar to real leather, making it a great substitution for the real thing. In other cases, the leather is made completely out of polyurethane or by coating polyester or cotton with polyurethane.

PU Leather vs. Real Leather

So how does PU leather compare to real leather? There are a few ways to look at this. Below, we will talk about durability, appearance, and cost-effectiveness. But first, here’s the question most people actually want answered.

Is PU Leather Vegan?

PU leather does NOT necessarily mean that the product is vegan! Just that it could be.  As mentioned above, in many cases, manufacturers will use the remains of the cowhide left over from genuine leather production and coat it with polyurethane to create the less expensive material. In this case, the leather is decidedly not vegan.

However, purely polyurethane leather is a vegan product. To be sure about the status of a product, just check to see if the product is labeled vegan leather as opposed to PU leather. If the product is labeled “vegan leather” then it is certified to be cruelty-free. If the product is labeled “made with real leather” than it is certainly not a vegan product.

PU Leather Durability

Of course, real leather does not involve the use of polyurethane, which is the main difference in the makeup of this material. PU is also typically significantly cheaper than real leather and provides a cost-effective option for those on a budget who want the look of the real thing. In many cases, PU leather can look exactly like real leather so it’s not a bad substitute. However, there will always be a major quality difference between real leather and faux leather. Synthetic leather is more brittle and less likely to age well, while real leather lasts longer and tends to give customers a longer-term product.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between PU Leather and Real Leather?

There are a few ways to tell faux leather from real leather when you’re deciding between products.

1. Read the labels. Of course, the main way to identify the quality of the product your purchasing is to read the label. Anything labeled as “genuine leather” is true leather, while anything that says “made with real leather” indicates that it incorporates man-made materials. But beyond reading the labels, there is a difference between real and faux leather that warrants the cost difference.

2. Examine the surface grain. Faux leather tends to have absolutely no surface imperfections since it’s made with completely uniform materials and processes. If you examine a genuine leather product, there should be some surface grain imperfections and unique markings.

3. Genuine leather is more pliable. If you manipulate a genuine leather product, you should notice that it’s flexible. PU leather is stiffer and won’t bend as much as a real leather product.

4. Real leather absorbs water. Because PU leather is coated in polyurethane, it will not absorb water. If you drop some water on a faux leather product, it will not be absorbed into the fabric. Alternatively, real leather will absorb water unless it has been pre-treated to be water-resistant.

What are the Pros of PU Leather?

There are several ways that polyurethane leather might be a good alternative to leather, depending on your preference.

• PU leather is more cost-effective. It’s a fantastic substitute for real leather if you’re not ready to commit financially to a leather product. Faux leather lets you add the look to your wardrobe without dropping major cash on it.

• PU leather can be a vegan option. As stated above, not all leather is vegan leather. However, vegan leather is PU leather designed to be cruelty-free. This is a great option for people who prefer to use only cruelty-free products.

• PU leather allows you to try new styles. This goes back to the cost-effective nature of PU leather. It’s a good way to try a new or trendy style without a big investment, so you won’t be stuck with an expensive piece if the trend fades in a few months.

What are the Cons of PU Leather?

Of course, there is a reason that PU leather is less expensive than genuine leather. There are a few reasons why it might not be the best way to go.

• Real leather is more durable. Real leather is of higher quality and therefore ages better. PU leather is less durable. It’s more likely to crack or break over time, whereas genuine leather is more flexible and therefore less likely to crack.

• Real leather is more breathable. Genuine leather is more breathable than faux leather, since it is porous, rather than painted over with a synthetic such as polyurethane. This makes it much more comfortable.

• Real leather ages better. Even as real leather ages and possibly gets scratched or damaged, it remains beautiful. The styles are timeless, and the overall product is more likely to wear its age well as opposed to cracking or getting damaged.

• Real leather lasts much longer. There’s a reason that leather (full grain, top grain, genuine) is an investment. If taken care of properly, true leather can last for years! It makes it a great addition to your wardrobe long-term.

Examples of PU Leather Wallets, Backpacks and Purses

The reality is this… there are a lot of quality PU leather products on the market. While it’s impossible to review all of them, we wanted to give you several examples that we like to show the range of options. We’ll look at several across the “carry” space, including men’s and women’s wallets, backpacks and purses (or bags). Take a look below, we hope it’s helpful.

This is a great example of a fun, stylish wallet that uses PU leather in a wide variety of colors (12 when we counted!).

Capacity: 2 ID holders, 14 card slots, 6 extra pockets (1 with zipper)

Dimensions: 7.5 x 3.95 x 1.2 inches

RFID protection: Yes [/amazon]

Faux Leather | The Verdict

It mostly comes down to budget and how long you want a piece to last. If you’re building a wardrobe around investment pieces, full grain leather earns its price and ages well. If you’re testing a style or want a cruelty-free option, decent PU leather gets you there without the same commitment.