When you buy leather products, there’s always a chance that you’re going to end up with a product made from low-quality leather that’s hyped up to be something it’s not. Unfortunately, many popular companies have been exposed by people willing to tear apart products to see what they’re truly made of, and the reality doesn’t match the advertising.
When you buy leather goods, here’s why you may not be getting the quality you’re being promised.
1. Leather quality can vary
If you’re not selective about where you get your leather goods from, the quality can vary dramatically. This is why a lot of businesses are starting to use synthetic leather materials, like Clarino. Instead of going with traditional vegan leather, this type of material mimics leather and surpasses leather’s special qualities. For instance, Clarino is lighter than natural leather, breathable, can be made in a wide range of colors, repels water, and can be washed.
Synthetic leather is used to make all kinds of goods, from sports balls and gloves to fashion and upholstery. It even has industrial applications, like smartphone cases, displays, and decorations. The consistency of synthetic leather can’t be beat – not even by real leather.
2. Luxury brands sell mediocre leather
Luxury brands that sell leather goods for hundreds or even thousands of dollars don’t use good leather to make their products. When these companies make leather handbags, purses, wallets, shoes, and jackets, they use low-quality leather with a lot of plastic finish and branding the items with their logo, and attaching a high price tag. When you buy from luxury companies, you’re paying for the brand name and the status it will give you – not the leather itself.
Smaller companies, on the other hand, are more likely to source the best leather from the start and put their heart and soul into the craftsmanship to produce a superior-quality product at a fraction of the cost.
3. Leather terms are misleading
When you read or hear the term “genuine leather,” you might think that’s just a phrase used to describe real leather as opposed to fake leather. Therefore, it’s a good choice. While genuine leather is not fake, it’s actually one of the lowest grades of leather you could buy. Genuine leather is made by sewing together scraps of leather and plastic. Products made from genuine leather are cheap and fall apart easily.
On the other hand, an item made with full-grain leather uses the whole animal hide, which makes the end result more beautiful and highly durable. If you’re buying anything more than a simple decoration, you want full-grain leather, especially if you’re buying apparel like jackets, boots, and bags. Even leather wallets should be made with full-grain leather since ones made from genuine leather tend to wear down fast from regular use.
4. A great reputation doesn’t equal great leather
Many companies build a growing customer base and positive reputation from good reviews posted online by satisfied customers, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll be getting good leather. Many people are perfectly content with lower-quality products as long as they look good or serve a basic purpose. If you happen to care about the grade of leather and longevity, seeing positive reviews and happy customers won’t necessarily tell you if a company makes quality leather goods.
To determine whether or not a product is made from high-quality leather, you’ll need to do more than just read the company’s marketing materials to determine what type of leather they use. Sometimes, companies use high-grade leather, but sparingly, or the craftsmanship is sub-par. You’ll want to look into the company’s manufacturing process and specifically look for negative reviews to find out what, specifically, might be wrong with the products. Not every item will be perfect, but when you know what you’re willing to accept, negative reviews can help you avoid your deal-breakers.
5. The leather could be fake
There’s always a chance that buying leather goods from an unknown brand can result in getting products made with fake leather. The problem with faux leather made from plastic is that it’s easy to damage, usually comes already damaged in some way, is difficult to repair, and won’t last more than a few months when used normally.
Leather can be great when it’s high-quality
Both real leather and faux leather goods can be amazing when the material is high-quality. The key to getting good leather is to know what to look for and do your research before buying from any company, regardless of its reputation.