Genuine leather vs. Artificial leather

GENUINE LEATHER OR ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, WHICH IS BETTER?

We at Buckle & Seam have a clear stance on this issue. For us, genuine leather is the only true material. You can read why in the following text.

REAL LEATHER OR ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, WHICH LASTS LONGER?

Definitely real leather. This is mainly because at least our leather is recycled in its full form. It has a thickness of 1.6 – 2 mm, whereas conventional artificial leather is only approx. 1 mm thick. The thicker the material, the stronger and durable the end product will be. This also means that the products become more durable, as heavy use does not damage them as much. In addition, real leather is basically tear-resistant. Artificial leather, on the other hand, can completely tear if even minor damage occurs. In addition, our leather is water-repellent. Your new bag will probably survive with you.

HOW DO THE LOOK DIFFER?

What does leather look actually mean? Leather look is the attempt of artificial leather manufacturers to imitate real leather. This only works in the rarest cases. Leather is a natural material, no animal, no stone, no plant is exactly like the same in nature. Therefore, it is of course clear that the appearance of real leather is often different in its structure. In addition, the appearance of leather can always change. It develops a patina. Meanwhile, artificial leather always remains what it is, thus artificial always the same and without any individuality.

IS ARTIFICIAL LEATHER MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

Of course, there are now companies that pay close attention to the environmental impact of their products, but even these are not perfect and, above all, there are very few of them. Artificial leather is based on petroleum, which causes problems in the production and disposal of the products. In addition, the products often contain plasticizers and solvents that can cause allergies or irritations.

Of course, not every tannery is aware of its impact on the environment. It is generally important to pay attention to what and where you buy something. This is also the reason why we are constantly improving our production. We save emissions and water. We also represent human standards. On average, our employees in Pakistan earn three times as much as is typical in their region. You are socially insured and receive bonus payments. On top of that comes the founding of the #OneBagOneChild initiative. This initiative ensures that three percent of Buckle & Seam's total sales go towards educating young girls in Pakistan.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY GENUINE LEATHER?

If you've always wondered how to recognize a genuine leather bag, here's a summary of our tips:

1. Feel it! If it is genuine leather, you will feel a cool but soft material. Artificial leather is rather smooth and rigid.
2. Take a smell! Nobody can imitate the intense smell of leather. Products made from genuine leather usually retain their smell forever.
3. Have a look! If you take a closer look, you will quickly notice huge differences between real and artificial leather. Artificial leather has the same structure everywhere, but real leather is irregular and can occasionally have scars.

In addition to the advantages of real leather already mentioned, the other thing missing is that real leather is breathable. Leather is alive, it is a piece of nature. This also means that you don't have to worry about sweaty feet in leather shoes, for example. This property also ensures that leather does not get moldy when it gets wet. Artificial leather doesn't breathe, so we sweat more quickly when we wear a artificial leather jacket or shoes, for example, which can get pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly.

ARTIFICIAL LEATHER LEATHER VS. GENUINE LEATHER

For us, real leather clearly wins when it comes to the question “which is better, real leather or artificial leather?” As with everything, everyone has to form their own opinion. Nevertheless, we hope to welcome you to our online shop soon.