Faux leather is essentially fake leather. Instead of being made of animal skins, these fabrics are made of other materials and may receive numerous treatments so that they replicate the look of leather and some of its common attributes. There are many names under which faux leather may be sold, and these include leatherette, pleather, and naugahyde.

Many reasons exist why people want faux leather and why companies may use it. It is usually cheaper than using real animal skins, and lower cost to manufacturers means consumers save money when they buy it. Some consumers avoid leather for ethical reasons, as might vegans or vegetarians, and they may search for products like shoes or handbags made of “vegan” leather. A few faux leather products are lighter and much easier to clean than are real leather products, and this may be influence people to choose them too.

There are several methods by which faux leather can be prepared. Sometimes it is made solely of materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other times, cloth material, made of things like polyester or cotton, is coated with substances to replicate the look of leather. The latter method was employed by the Dupont® company to make the product Corfam®, which they also called poromeric imitation leather. This was marketed extensively with little success. Corfam® is not very popular today, but the idea of making fake leathers porous so that they aren’t too hot or don’t “breathe” is still in much use.

Early fake versions of leather, especially those labeled naugahyde or pleather could slightly replicate the look of leather, but didn’t do much to mimic its feel. Pleather is shiny and meant to look similar to patent leather, and it tends to be much stiffer than real leather, and doesn’t breathe, which can be uncomfortable when it’s used in shoes, clothing, or upholstery. Originally pleather was mostly made of PVC, but now some applications make it from polyurethane, which does have some breathability. Polyurethane pleather versions are usually preferred to completely PVC forms today.

A number of faux leather types can be problematic for those who are looking for environmentally friendly materials that are cruelty free. There are some biodegradable forms of polyurethane leather. A few other eco-friendly processes may be used to make certain types of faux leather but these can be difficult to find, and are typically more expensive than real leather.

There is still a considerable market for fake leather products and many different uses for its various forms. It can be made as fabric for upholstery or clothing or used to make shoes. People may also find leather-like materials in suitcases or laptop cases. Lots of handbags, purses and briefcases are made with faux leather too.