What’s Faux Leather? What To Know Before You Buy

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Fake it till you make—that’s faux leather’s motto. 

This synthetic stand-in for real leather has made its way into closets and onto couches, delivering the luxe look of animal hides without harming animals (or bank accounts). It’s a win for your wallet and your conscience—but that doesn’t mean faux leather is flawless. 

From durability to environmental impact, there’s a lot to consider before adding products made from this material to your cart. In this guide, we’ll break down what faux leather is, how it compares to real leather, and what to look for when shopping secondhand.

What’s faux leather?

Faux leather is a catch-all term for synthetic leather that mimics the look and feel of the real thing—no animal hides required. Instead of being tanned from cowhide like real leather, the synthetic version is usually made by layering polyurethane (for PU leather) or polyvinyl chloride (for PVC leather) over a base fabric like polyester or cotton.

Thanks to its smooth, uniform texture, faux leather often looks polished and consistent, with fewer natural imperfections than the real deal. While genuine leather softens and molds over time, fake leather keeps its shape, offering a sleeker (but less breathable) final product. 

Faux leather material skips the ethical concerns of animal products, but it’s not impact-free: Producing synthetic materials like faux leather still involves plastic, chemical treatments, and energy-intensive processes—all trade-offs worth weighing before you go the artificial route. 

If you’re torn between sustainability and personal style, knowing how faux leather compares to full-grain and other types of leather can help you choose the option that aligns with your values and your vibe. 

How is faux leather made? 

To create synthetic leather, manufacturers start with a woven base—usually polyester, cotton, or another fabric blend. This base is then coated with polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to give it a smooth, leather-like finish. 

The material is then embossed with a texture that mimics the natural grain of real leather, helping it look more natural and less synthetic. After that, dyes (and sometimes chemicals) are applied to create color and sheen. The final step is adding a protective topcoat to enhance durability—this can boost stain resistance, add gloss, or help the material hold its shape.

The end result? Synthetic leather jackets, skirts, bags, and pants that look luxe while remaining entirely animal-free. 

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5 main types of synthetic leather

Much like genuine and full-grain leather, not all faux leather is created equal. From flexible fashion favorites to durable upholstery materials, here are five common types of synthetic leather that don’t come from animal hides.

1. Polyurethane (PU) leather 

Polyurethane faux leather, usually shortened to PU leather, is made by coating a fabric base with a layer of polyurethane. It’s soft, flexible, and more breathable than other types of faux leather, making it ideal for things like statement bags, leather skirts, leather pants, and other products that touch the skin. 

PU leather’s texture mimics genuine leather surprisingly well. While it’s not as durable as genuine leather and may peel over time, PU tends to hold up better than PVC. And since it doesn’t rely on plasticizers (more on that in a minute), it’s less likely to crack.

2. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) leather

PVC leather has been around since the 1940s and is prized for its durability. You’ll often find it in high-use items like belts, shoes, upholstery, and even car interiors. While it’s less breathable and more plasticky-feeling than PU leather, it’s more resistant to moisture and stains, perfect for wet environments or easy-clean situations.

The tradeoff? PVC leather is made with harsher chemicals, including plasticizers (which soften the material), and it doesn’t always age well. Over time, it can become stiff or crack, especially with heavy use or sun exposure.

3. Leatherette

Leatherette is a broad term for imitation leather, typically made from PU, PVC, or other synthetic materials. This faux leather is often used in auto upholstery, affordable faux-leather jackets, and fashion pieces where the look of leather matters more than long-term wear. 

What sets leatherette apart is its purpose: It’s designed to look like leather at a lower cost. While it scores high on affordability and appearance, leatherette is less breathable and durable than more advanced faux leathers. Expect a smoother, more uniform surface with less grain and a firmer feel than PU-based options. 

4. Vegan leather

Vegan leather is a marketing-friendly term for any leather alternative made without animal hides. This label is often used interchangeably with synthetic leather, but it also includes innovative plant-based options like mushroom leather, cactus leather, and Piñatex, which is made from pineapple leaves.

Not all vegan leather is eco-friendly, but newer versions aim to reduce environmental impact by using fewer chemicals and more sustainable processes. You’ll find vegan leather in everything from faux-leather jackets to leather pants to sleek accessories. A vegan leather product’s durability and price will depend on the base material and production method. 

5. Bonded leather 

Bonded leather is in a category all its own. Made by blending real leather scraps with adhesives before coating the surface with polyurethane, it’s technically part real leather, part synthetic. But don’t let the mix fool you—bonded leather is far less durable than either material on its own.

Think of it as the hot dog of leather: leftover bits pressed into something new. You’ll often find bonded leather in budget-friendly belts, journals, and furniture. While it may look sleek at first, the surface tends to peel or flake with regular use.

Benefits of synthetic leather

Faux leather has a lot going for it, especially if you’re after style, practicality, and versatility:

• Budget-friendly: Faux leather is typically more affordable than the real thing, which makes it ideal for fashion and home goods.
• Durable: Since faux leather resists scratches, stains, and UV fading better than genuine leather, it’s great for everyday wear.
• Low-maintenance: Most faux leather wipes clean with a damp cloth, so it doesn’t require conditioning like real leather does.
• Consistent look: Synthetics mimic the texture and grain of real leather but with a smoother, more uniform finish.
• Design-flexible: Fake leather comes in tons of colors and patterns, giving you more freedom to play with style. 

Disadvantages of faux leather

While faux leather doesn’t use animal hides, it does have trade-offs—especially when it comes to sustainability and long-term wear:

• Plastic-based: Most faux leather is made from PU or PVC, which are derived from fossil fuels and don’t biodegrade.
• Chemical-heavy: These fabrics often include additives like phthalates and dioxins, which can leach into the environment.
• Less breathable: Unlike real leather, the synthetic version doesn’t stretch, mold to your body, or develop a rich patina.
• Prone to peeling: Faux leather can crack, flake, or stiffen with time, use, and sun exposure.
• Low regulation: There aren’t many certifications for faux leather, so it’s hard to know how ethically a product was made.

Make the most of faux leather—without buying it new 

Faux leather may skip the animal products, but new pieces still come with environmental baggage. Most are made from petroleum-based synthetics and require resource-heavy manufacturing, which adds to fashion’s footprint—even when it’s animal-free. 

The more sustainable move? Shop secondhand. Thrifting preloved faux or real leather jackets, pants, and accessories on ThredUp gives pieces a second life while keeping plastic out of landfills. And by learning how to clean leather items, you can extend their wear even further. 

Whether you’re curating a complete look or just searching for the perfect shoes to wear with leather pants, ThredUp makes it easy to browse secondhand by material, condition, or size. 

Ready to give synthetic fibers a second chance? Start thrifting on ThredUp today.

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