26/02/2025
How to know if a product is Leather
Many of you have fallen victim while purchasing a leather product and ended up purchasing a non-leather one. Some Retailers/ Stockists could face the same problem as they stock products in their retail shops without knowing if they are leather.
To avoid falling into the same trap again, these few tips will help you identify if the product is leather or non-leather;
1. Leather has a distinctive smell that confirms genuineness and that cannot be replicated in non-leather products.
2. Examining the edges of a product- This applies to products with a raw edge finish, as the edge is visible for examination. Real leather will have a natural rough-like edge.
3. Leather resembles human skin in that it will wrinkle and crease once you press into the leather as you would do to your skin.
4. Feel the texture and study the surface- The surface has an inconsistent pattern, while synthetic will have a consistent repeating pattern. Natural imperfections, such as scars, stretch marks, etc., may be visible.
5. Scratching slightly the top surface of the product. Non-leather materials tend to slightly peel once scratched since they do not possess scratch resistance properties.
6. This tip may only work for a product you possess, not the one you have yet to buy. Testing the product with fire. If the product catches fire or melts, you already know it’s synthetic.
I discourage citizens from using price as the only determining factor to differentiate between leather and non-leather products since some could be selling a synthetic product at a premium price, and you end up disappointed.
Having familiarized yourself with the few tips, you can now shop for that leather shoe, leather belt, leather handbag, leather wallet, etc., and you will get it right this time.
We design and manufacture Leather Shoes, Leather Belts in both Wholesale and Retail,
We will gladly answer any query and assist anybody interested in knowing more about leather.