Secondly if you haven’t found any of the above names on the tag then look at what is and if you have any of the following you can breathe because your sofa is real leather. How to Tell If It Is Bonded Leather. … These include any of the following - faux leather, pleather, leatherette, naugahyde, corfam, ultrasuede, fabikoid, permeable leather, artificial leather or American leather cloth. How to Tell if Leather is Real. Synthetic leather is usually stiff yet smooth to the touch. If you purchase your leather sofa from us then you can rest assured that what you will get is a real leather sofa not a fake! Don't be fooled by the many types of fake leather that still contain the word leather in … This is the logo that identifies real italian made leather. You also won't be able to stretch faux leather, but real leather can be stretched. A furniture tag indicating fake leather might include terms such as faux leather, naugahyde, pleather, bonded leather or leatherette. One of the most popular upholstery coverings for our sofas, chairs, corner sofas, sofa beds, and footstools is leather. Real leather can also be known as full grain leather, which is going to be the highest grade of leather you can find. Is it soft and pliable or does it feel extremely cold and smooth. One of the biggest ways to tell is by becoming familiar with what leather feels like, and using your sense of touch to find the counterfeits. Purchase your sofa from Winchester Leather and you are guaranteed proper leather that looks, feels and smells just as it should. A quick tip how to tell if something is leather. The Moisture Test One of the easiest ways to tell if leather is genuine is to place a single drop of water on it. But if it doesn't say anything at all, chances are good the manufacturer wants to conceal the fact that it isn't real leather. [1] X Research source Of course, used goods may have lost their tags. Obviously, don't hold it one spot for an extended period of time but if you wave it on a broad side of a wallet or a bag, it won't harm real leather. Secondly if you haven’t found any of the above names on the tag then look at what is and if you have any of the following you can breathe because your sofa is real leather. Real leather: Look at the surface of the leather. Real leatheris a natural material made from real animal skin. It can help save you a costly mistake and money at the same time. Knowing how to identify a real leather sofa can make sure you don’t pay over the odds for fake leather sofa. We'll use the sofa in this example. If you are in the market for a new genuine leather sofa there are a few things that will make your shopping experience better. The modern climate pits cheaper, imported leather furniture against domestic leather furniture with all the bells and whistles. Fake leathers, and cheap quality leathers have a smooth plasticy feel to them, and when they are bent at extreme angles, you can see they have a slight tendency to crack.If it has an artificial looking shine, that is a good warning sign as well. (careful, don't burn the thread) Buying leather furniture is an investment in style, comfort, and durability. Watch out for scratches. Known as the moisture test, this is intended to check and see if the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet. It is important to check the label on the sofa before you purchase it. Go to a high-end furniture store that either specializes in leather furniture or has a large inventory. If it's the real thing, you'll need to care for it with specialty items such as our Leather Care Kit. With these insights, you should be able to figure out when a leather item is a fake and when it is real. You can also explore our e-Learning Center to find DIY tips. The sixth check which you can make is to examine the grain patterning on the sofa and if this patterning is arranged in a pattern which is identifiable then it is man-made. At the Chesterfield Sofa Company we pride ourselves on the quality of leather we use for each and every piece we produce. Burn it! Real leather sofas are easy to fit with many styles of décor. Often times, it is difficult to know whether the term is one that is used for real or fake leather. If you see “100% real leather,” “full/top grain leather,” or “genuine leather,” you’re headed in the right direction. Real leather is worth the effort Have a look at our guide to buying a real leather sofa for more information. In case it persists, ask a professional leather specialist to clean the spot to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself. An Overview Guide to Leather Grades Leather is a material loved by many for its flexibility and durability. Lastly, real leather will feel warm, while fake leather feels cool. Meanwhile, fake leather feels cold when you sit on it. A piece labeled "full leather" will normally be genuine leather all over, including back, sides and other trim areas. Bonded leatheris made from the scraps and fibers leftover from manufacturing genuine leather, mixed with a polyurethan… For real leather, you will find the fat wrinkles or the natural creases from the animal’s body. Some buzzwords you may hear when shopping for leather furniture are “bonded leather“, “full grain” and lately “top grain leather”. Pigmentation or staining gives the leather an attractive look. Look for a tag on the sofa that lists what materials are used in the sofa. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. By touching the piece of furniture, you can tell whether it is real or fake. Join our mailing list to receive the best advice, hints, tips and special offers. Thirdly take a closer look at the seams on the underside of the sofa and how they appear. To remove dark-colored spots from such pieces, opt for a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. It can be tricky to tell if a piece of furniture is made of leather, vinyl or a combination of the two (sometimes called “bonded leather”). Top grain is the second highest grade of leather. Therefore, when you buy one of our real leather sofas you can be certain that is just what it is. The leather experts are here to help you make an informed decision. There are a number of noticeable differences between real leather chesterfield sofas and cheap leather sofas which are in fact fake leather. Leather comes from animals, so the hides used to make furniture, jackets and other products will have visible pores on them. This is a compressive read that will outline from start to finish how to be sure what you are buying is real top grain leather along with other furniture buying tips. 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