Faux suede is widely used to make clothing, shoes, bags and furniture. It is a soft, synthetic fabric made 100% polyester. The material can come in many forms, including micro suede, a microfiber. It also comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

The word suede was originally coined by the French. The word comes from gants de Suede which roughly translates to gloves of Sweden. The soft fabric was originally created to make ladies gloves.

Suede is a type of leather made from the underside of an animal's skin. Most often, the hide of a goat, cow, pig or lamb is used to make suede. However, because suede is made from the underside of the skin, it is less tough and therefore less durable.

Real suede is hard to clean and not water resistant. The fabric is susceptible to dirt and can therefore easily be spoiled. Although many products have been made to protect it, real suede should be handled with great care. If you would like more freedom with your clothing, bags or furniture, you may wish to opt for faux suede instead.

In many ways, faux suede is a better alternative to the real thing. It largely feels the same as real suede, and is easier to clean and more resistant to liquid than leather. Additionally, it is considerably cheaper than real suede, costing much less than half the price of the real thing.

Because upholstery often gets dirty, especially if children are involved, faux suede is often the more popular choice. Faux suede is often more affordable than real suede and is a great alternative for consumers who do not wish to purchase animal products. Many people and groups, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), are against the slaying of animals in the name of fashion. This means the popularity of faux leather and fur products are gaining steam and very accepted in the fashion world.

Faux suede can be purchased virtually anywhere. It is as soft as velvet yet looks virtually the same as suede leather. Used for purses and jackets, it can make a wonderful gift or can help create comfortable and classy furniture.