What are leatherette cover materials?
Leatherette refers to artificial leather, which is not actual leather. This is a completely manufactured product that does not come from animal hides. Other names for artificial leather include “imitation leather”, “faux leather”, “vegan leather”, “PU leather”, and “pleather”.
As mentioned above, Leatherette always costs less than leather since Leatherette is a manufactured material. This makes Leatherette a cost-effective option for clients seeking something that looks like leather at a more affordable price point.
On the practical side, Leatherette is usually less porous, which makes it easier to clean and more spill and odor resistant. But on the down side, Leatherette is usually less durable than leather and therefore doesn’t last as long.
On the aesthetic side, Leatherette will have a uniform consistent grain. This is ideal for clients who want something like leather, but without natural blemishes that can occur in hides. Leatherette, unlike leather, also doesn’t change as much over time. This means that it won’t lose its color, become softer or develop a patina.
Our Natural Texture Leatherettes include our Walnut, Cherry Wood, Oak, Birch and Marble. These Leatherettes are an example of patterns that could never be created from leather. An instance where a Natural Texture Leatherette may be preferred over leather, would be pairing a wood patterned Leatherette with a Wood Cover. So while leather may be considered a more premium material, it does have less patterns and texture options.