Vegan leather is an awesome vegan-friendly alternative to genuine leather products. Whether you're looking at synthetic leather furniture because of the ethics behind keeping things animal-free or you're interested in a more affordable option than genuine leather, we've got you covered. Keep reading for our answers to your most-asked vegan leather Qs.

What Is Vegan Leather?

Vegan leather is an eco-friendly leather alternative. It's an ethical, sustainable, and cruelty-free fabric that mimics the look and feel of real leather. Vegan leather is also referred to as faux leather, polyester leather, synthetic leather, or pleather. While real leather products are made from animal hides, vegan leather is made from two plastic-based materials: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU).

Pro Tip:

Want to go even more eco-friendly? There are some vegan leather products made with plant-based or recycled materials. These natural vegan leather options include tree bark, leaves, paper, recycled plastic or rubber, cork (cork leather), muskin (made from mushrooms), and a variety of other plant-based options.

Vegan Leather vs. Genuine Leather

While vegan leather and animal leather look super similar, they have a few key differences.

• Vegan leather is thinner and more lightweight than genuine leather.
• Vegan leather will soften and stretch over time, but not as much as animal leather.
• Vegan leather is very uniform because each pore is synthetically created. Real leather is unique because no two animal skins are the same.
• Vegan leather is more affordable than real leather because it is mass-produced.
• Vegan leather holds dye better than genuine leather, so you have a larger variety of colors to choose from when shopping for a sofa, accent chairs, or a pouf.

Why Choose Vegan Leather?

A bonus for choosing a leather alternative for your furniture, vegan leather is waterproof and very easy to care for (more on that below). This makes it a great synthetic leather choice for dining room and living room furniture or rooms where you spend a lot of time. Vegan leather dining chairs can be wiped down in a snap. Easy post-dinner cleanup? We're there.

Because vegan leather is more affordable than real leather, it's ideal for large pieces of furniture. We're obsessed with vegan leather sofas because you get the leather-like look and cool softness without the need for animal skin. Just pile on the throw blankets and cozy up for a Netflix binge.

If you're considering updating your home office, opt for vegan leather office chairs or a vegan leather loveseat. They're more affordable when compared to animal leather products for your workspace, and yet, they still look like the real thing.. Whether you're meeting clients IRL or over Zoom, you'll definitely make a lasting impression.

Caring for Vegan Leather

Caring for synthetic leather is pretty simple. Because of its plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) coating, vegan leather is waterproof. Follow our tips for easy cleaning.

1. Carefully blot stains with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any liquid or dirt. Do your best to be gentle and try not to scrub too hard.
2. Using a mild dish soap, hot water, and a clean cloth, wipe down the furniture in gentle circular motions. Don't use a sponge, as it can tear the surface.
3. Dry the faux leather with a dry microfiber cloth. Softly buff the area in circular motions.

Pro Tips:

Too much water and cleaners with lots of chemicals or alcohol will make your faux leather dry out faster. And too much bright sunlight can discolor the fabric over time. Because vegan leather is waterproof, it does not need a waterproof spray on top of it.

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