What is Microfiber Leather?

Let’s get real, not all vegan leathers are created equal. Synthetic leathers have been used in consumer products for years-- they look good while being extremely affordable for companies and customers. Overtime there have been great improvements to synthetic leathers refining their appearance and durability. One of the most recent innovations is microfiber leather.

What is Microfiber Leather?

For years, synthetic leathers have been somewhat of a joke, shiny, smooth, plastic feel, smelly are just a few of the characteristics that scream FAKE. In recent years, scientists put their heads together to create a material that has a realistic appearance but it’s durability far surpasses synthetic as well as real leathers.

Microfiber leather is a type of synthetic leather, made by a combination of microfiber non-woven fabric coated with a layer of high performance PU (polyurethane) resins.  This closely mimics the construction of real leather but with real leathers they use skin fibers instead of microfiber, obviously. Other synthetic leathers are often referred to as PU because there is no weaving involved it is simply fabric coated with a chemical- yuck!

What are the properties of Microfiber Leather?

• Looks + Feels like leather
• Will not tear, scratch, peel, or chip
• Anti-bacterial
• Lightweight
• Water-resistant
• Will not fade
• Breathable
• Eco-friendly
• Washable
• Eco-friendly

Why is Microfiber Good for Bags & Accessories?

There is no doubt that your bag will end up on the bathroom floor, tossed in the car with little feet climbing over it, it will be spilled on, maybe even colored on. Microfiber is the cutting edge material in the bag industry and we are of the first companies to jump on board the microfiber leather train.

Microfiber leather outperforms PU leather as well as real leathers. We have seen PU bags, priced similarly to our products, chip and peel after a few months of use. They might have a great appearance, but their performance is far from superior. Real leather on the other hand is not water-resistant- watch out rain! Leather scratches easily, and is much heavier, which is not necessarily desirable.

Why Don't All Companies Use Microfiber Leather?

COST. Our very first prototype of The Aberdeen was made from PU leather. As we were testing its durability we noticed some peeling of material in the corner after a few days of use. After extensive research and our discovery of microfiber we came back to our manufacturer and said we would like to switch the material. He tried to talk us out of it and said microfiber costs more and as a result no other bag companies use it. We are unlike any other bag company, quality and durability are just as important to us as appearance.  Here at Elkie, we offer top quality products that will last a lifetime and we have worked hard to price our products similarly to our competitors.

FAQ

What is microfiber leather?

Microfiber leather is synthetic leather made by a combination of microfiber non-woven fabric coated with a layer of high-performance polyurethane (PU) resins. It closely mimics the construction of real leather but with microfiber instead of skin fibers. It is eco-friendly as it is created without any harmful chemicals or substances.

What are the characteristics of leather?

Real leather is a natural product with warmth and natural charm and beauty. However, it is heavier, easily scratches, and may display traces of the animal’s past life such as wrinkles and differing fiber density.

What does microfiber leather look like?

Microfiber leather looks like and shares many similarities with natural leather but has better physical and chemical performance. It is also more lightweight than real leather and most faux leather options.

Does microfiber leather crack?

Microfiber leather does not crack. It has superior performance and will not scratch, peel, tear, chip, or fade over time.