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Imitation Leather

Imitation leather is a synthetic material typically made from a polyurethane coating on a fibrous base layer such as polyester. Imitation or artificial leather can be used on shoes, clothing and other items when the leather look is desired but out of the budget. One of the most popular leather substitutes is pleather, which is the slang word used to describe synthetic leather material with a plastic coating. Pleather is often used for many items because it is lighter, less expensive, last longer (due to the plastic coating) and looks similar enough to actual leather. Pleather is definitely harder to clean but can be mass-produced for items such as athletic shoes, jackets, purses and other items.

Leather items typically cost more because of the controversy over animal cruelty and the extensive process in which it takes to create leather. Imitation leather then becomes a great option as it doesn't use animal hides and is thus cheaper to make. If a manufacturer knows they can't make a profit on the item then they are better off using imitation leather.

Higher end leather items such as Italian loafers are made with authentic leather because the manufacturer knows that they will be able to make a profit on the money it took to make the authentic leather loafers. Another shoe manufacturer that markets its items to teenagers might opt to use imitation leather, knowing that their customers won't be able to afford real leather items. Imitation leather is cheaper, more durable and yet exudes the leather look that makes shoes and other items appealing. Some athletic shoes might not use authentic leather on their uppers because the shoes have a short lifespan, especially if the wearer engages in a lot of physical activity.