In the vegan leather fraternity, faux leather and bonded leather are two of the most popular materials.
While faux leather is made from synthetic polymers, bonded leather is a composite of genuine leather shavings and resin. Here are six reasons why faux leather trumps bonded leather any day.
1. Faux Leather Is More Durable Than Bonded Leather
We all know how durable leather as a material is durable, and you would think because bonded leather contains real leather, it would actually be more durable than faux leather.
However, that’s not the case. The resin used to bind the leather shavings together in bonded leather actually makes it less durable than its synthetic counterpart.
This means bonded leather will give in to any amount of stress and strain much quicker than faux leather.
Faux leather, on the other hand, is made of polyurethane which is a much more resilient material. In fact, it’s often used as a top layer in genuine leather to make it more durable.
So, if you’re looking for a material that will last you long and you cannot afford real leather, faux leather is the way to go.
2. Faux Leather Is More Flexible Than Bonded Leather
Another area where faux leather outperforms bonded leather is flexibility.
As far as comfortability goes, you want a material that is going to be able to move and give in to your body’s movement, and that’s exactly what faux leather does.
Because faux leather is a plastic or polyurethane-based material, it can be tailored to be as flexible as real leather while offering the best of the best in terms of comfort.
On the other hand, bonded leather does not have this same ability to flex. It is a much stiffer material that won’t contour to your body as easily as faux leather will.
Any attempt to make it more soft or flexible than it is will result in the bonded leather quickly breaking down.
So, if you’re looking for a material that will give you the most comfort, faux leather is going to be your best bet.
3. Faux Leather Is Dense And Not Thin Compared To Bonded Leather
When it comes to bonded leather, one of its biggest downfalls is that it’s a very thin material.
This might not seem like a big deal at first, but when you consider how much wear and tear your furniture goes through on a daily basis, it becomes clear just how quickly bonded leather can break down.
Bonded leather is so thin because it’s made of genuine leather shavings that have been glued or bonded together.
There’s not much to it, which is why it doesn’t take long for it to start showing signs of wear and tear.
Faux leather, on the other hand, is a much denser material. It’s made of synthetic polymers that are thick and durable.
This means it can withstand a lot more wear and tear than bonded leather before it starts to show any signs of damage.
4. Faux Leather Gives You A Better Resemblance To Real Leather
As far as looks, appearance, and texture go, faux leather gives you a much better resemblance to real leather than bonded leather does.
Bonded leather has a very fake-looking, plastic-like sheen to it that screams “not real” from a mile away.
It also doesn’t have the same smoothness or softness that real leather has.
Faux leather, on the other hand, will be finished to look exactly like real leather. Faux leather usually has textures, grains, and colors that make it indistinguishable from the real thing.
The only way you’ll be able to tell the difference is by looking closely at the label, smell, and touch, and even then, it’s not always easy to tell.
This puts faux leather way ahead of bonded leather since when it comes to vegan leather, the whole idea is about leather alternatives that look and feel like leather.
5. Faux Leather Is Extremely Easy To Care For And Maintain
When it comes to maintenance, faux leather is extremely easy to care for. All you really need to do is wipe it down with a damp cloth on a regular basis, and that’s about it.
The fact that bonded leather is made of real leather and other plastic materials means it can be very complex to care for.
You have to be careful about what cleaning products you use, how often you clean it, and so on.
One wrong move and you could end up damaging the bonded leather beyond repair. With faux leather, there’s very little risk of damage since it’s a plastic-based material.
This is why faux leather furniture is such a popular choice for busy families or anyone who doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of maintaining real leather furniture.
6. Faux Leather Is A More Eco-Friendly Choice Than Bonded Leather
Finally, another big advantage of faux leather over bonded leather is that it’s a more eco-friendly choice.
This is because faux leather is made completely of synthetic materials that come from petroleum.
Bonded leather, on the other hand, contains real leather, which is a product of the meat industry.
The meat industry is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option, faux leather is the way to go.
So there you have it, six reasons why faux leather is better than bonded leather.
Final Thoughts
In this article, I shared with you six reasons why faux leather is better than bonded leather.
I hope this article has helped you see the advantages of faux leather over bonded leather and that you will consider it for your next apparel, furniture, or upholstery purchase.
Faux leather has a number of advantages over bonded leather, including durability, eco-friendliness, and easy maintenance.
If you’re considering faux leather for your next furniture or upholstery purchase, keep these advantages in mind. Thanks for reading!
