Leatherette: The Definitive Guide (2025)
January 30, 2025
Man and Leather have a thousand-year-long history with each other. Ever since the early man discovered how to make leather, it has been used to make everything from furniture and tools to handbags and sporting equipment.
The Leather-making process has evolved a ton over the centuries. The ancient Egyptians and Hebrews are believed to have invented vegetable tanning in 400 BCE. Now, several millennia later, thanks to the Industrial Revolution and general technological advancements, the process of making leather has become much easier compared to before.
Technological evolution has also allowed for the birth of leather alternatives. Faux Leather or Leatherette is a popular choice among many buyers as it costs much less than real leather and is animal-free. However, like any other thing, it has pros and cons. And this Leatherette definitive guide will dive deep into everything related to it.
What is Leatherette?
Leatherette is an artificial leather made from natural or synthetic fabric coated in PVC or Polyurethane (PU). It appears and feels similar to real leather but is available at a much lower cost.
Some people tend to confuse faux leather with leatherette leather. While they are essentially the same thing, they differ in how they are used to make a product.
Faux leather is used to make furniture like chairs and sofas. Leatherette on the other hand is used for making clothing and automotive upholstery.
How is Leatherette Made?
As it is an artificial leather, it is completely animal-free. Leatherette is instead made using synthetic or natural fabric (cotton or leftover hide from real leather) as a base, which is attached to a PVC or Polyurethane (PU) layer.
Usually, a single layer is enough for PVC-based artificial leather, which is then treated with plasticizers and dyed to look like real leather.
This might come as a surprise, but the entire process of making leatherette takes longer than making real leather. However, the end result is cruelty-free, cheap, and low-maintenance material.
Leatherette: Environmental Friendly or Not?
Contrary to what some might believe, leatherette isn’t actually environmentally friendly. Why? As mentioned, Leatherette is made of plastics and PVC, which are non-biodegradable materials.
Real leather in itself isn’t purely environmentally friendly either, since many chemicals are used during its production.
Pros and Cons of Leatherette
Like any other thing, leatherette has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of its pros and cons:
Pros
Affordable:
Leatherette costs significantly less than genuine leather. It’s perfect for individuals who are looking for real leather alternatives at a lower cost.
Low Maintenace:
Unlike real leather, leatherette is quite low maintenance. This makes it simple to clean and maintain.
Strong and Durable:
Leatherette is quite resistant to normal wear and tear. It’s also waterproof and will save you from spills and stains.
Cruelty-Free:
Leatherette is labeled as cruelty-free since it’s not made from animal hide. This makes it quite popular with animal lovers.
Cons
Not Breathable:
Leatherette isn’t breathable, making it quite uncomfortable to wear, especially during hot summers.
Not Eco-Friendly:
While Leatherette might be cruelty-free, it’s not eco-friendly. The materials and substances used in making leatherette are non-biodegradable and, consequently, harmful to the environment.
Doesn’t offer the same comfort as real leather:
Real Leather compared to leatherette is much softer. The comfort of genuine leather isn’t the same as that of a leatherette.
Overall, leatherette is a good choice if you value cost and want to avoid animal products. But it will never replace the value and comfort genuine leather provides.
Who Should Buy Leatherette?
If you are someone who:
Is Budget Conscious
Leatherette is a cost-friendly alternative to genuine leather, providing almost the same feel and appearance.
Prefers Low-Maintenance
A casual wipe with a cloth is enough to clean leatherette products. Real leather needs constant cleaning and maintenance, while leatherette doesn’t.
Wants to use cruelty and animal-free products
The entire process of making leatherette involves no animal products and is completely cruelty-free.
Is a frequent flyer and traveler
Leatherette messenger and duffel bags are lightweight, stylish, and pretty resistant to normal wear and tear, making them a great choice as travel accessories.
Is style-conscious
One of the many great features of leatherette is that it is available in a diverse range of colors and designs, ensuring your fashion sense remains updated at all times.
Is a professional and daily commuter
Leatherette laptop bags and backpacks offer a smart and sleek look for professional and daily commuters while safeguarding your items from bumps, scratches, dust, and accidental spills.
Is a business or corporate buyer
Leatherette is perfect for corporate gifting, giveaways, and promotional events. It provides the premium look and feel of real leather without digging deep into your pockets.
Why Choose Leatherette?
Leatherette is an excellent option for anyone looking for a durable, stylish, budget-friendly, and ethical alternative to leather. Whether you're a professional, a traveler, or a fashion-conscious buyer, leatherette offers the perfect blend of luxury and practicality.
Leatherette Products From Montbold
At Montbold, we offer several leatherette products. Here are some of them that you might like. If you end up loving one of these, order it to your home or office, and we will get it delivered in just a few days.
The Commute Laptop Bag is designed for working professionals and daily commuters. Made with the best quality leatherette and premium stitching, it’s available for purchase in four vibrant colors - Black, Navy Blue, Brown, and Green. It has a padded handle and a detachable strap, offering you two carrying options and absolute comfort no matter where you go. Plus, with its high-quality material, you get a bag designed to protect your laptop, important documents, chargers, and other items.
Unisex Executive Leatherette Laptop Bag
The Unisex Executive Leatherette Laptop Bag comes in a stunning navy blue color and a design that exudes functionality. The bag has a well-organized, expansive interior for storing laptops and other tech accessories. For carrying options, it has a detachable strap and a top handle. Whether you are heading to your office, or on the way to an important work meeting, the Unisex Executive Leatherette Laptop Bag is a reliable travel accessory.
Trendy Sling Bag for Men | Women
Accentuate your style with Montbold’s Trendy Sling Bag. Available for purchase in three color options - Brown, Black, and Tan, it’s the perfect messenger bag for weekend outings, functions, and more. The bag has several storage compartments, allowing you to store everything from your tablet and makeup kits to chargers and books. The premium zipper stitched on it ensures easy access to your items inside, while the strap allows for comfy carrying at all times.
Classic Leatherette Laptop Bag
Return to a timeless style with Montbold’s Classic Leatherette Laptop Bag. Available in four eye-popping colors - Navy Blue, Brown, Black, and Tan- it has a sophisticated and stylish look while providing great functionality. It’s a perfect blend of style and practicality, designed with exceptional craftsmanship and material. With its cushioned handles and detachable shoulder straps, plus the large interior, you have a laptop bag that’s both sleek and practical.
Stylish Professional Laptop Bag
In search of a bag that’s the epitome of fashion and provides great utility? Well, say hello to Montbold’s Stylish Professional Laptop Bag. With a name like that, you know it’s the best at what it does. It’s currently offered in three stunning finishes - Navy Blue, Black, and Green, each equally beautiful and iconic. The Stylish Professional Laptop Bag has a spacious interior suitable for keeping items like laptops, files, chargers, and more. Plus, the strap and handle ensure a comfortable carrying experience wherever you go with this bag.
Enjoy a nice commute or a weekend trip with friends with Montbold’s 15-inch Minimalist Backpack. The backpack comes in two colors - Black and Tan. Regarding storage space, it has a large main one with a dedicated compartment for laptops of up to 15 inches in size. There are also two extra storage compartments on the front, ideal for keeping your other items. Furthermore, you get two handles on the backpack, one on the top and the other on the side. And of course, there are padded straps, too. Overall, it’s a perfect backpack for anyone who values style and functionality.
Montbold Professional Laptop Bag For Men | Women
The Montbold Professional Laptop Bag For Men | Women is a cost-effective, functional, and versatile bag tailor-made to satisfy all your carrying needs. It comes with a large interior storage space that can accommodate laptops up to 15.6 inches. There’s also an extra compartment in the back offering extra storage space. Like other laptop bags from Montbold, it has two carrying options - a padded handle and a detachable shoulder strap. It's an all-around great laptop bag, available in a black finish and at an affordable price.
Montbold’s Executive Brown Laptop Bag is a great travel and commute companion. The material used to manufacture this bag is of premium quality, ensuring your contents inside the bag are always safe from spills, bumps, scratches, and dust. The brown and gray finish on the bag gives it a sophisticated look, making it suitable for all professional occasions.
In Conclusion
Leatherette is a great manufacturing material for garments, handbags, and auto upholstery. It appears and feels similar to real leather while costing quite low.
However, leatherette isn’t a complete replacement for real leather. It still has its own downsides in the form of being not eco-friendly, its durability being lower than genuine leather, and, of course, not being as prestigious as real leather.
That’s the end of our Leatherette Definitive Guide. Check out this leather gift guide on Valentine’s Day 2025.
Montbold has a range of products made from not only just leatherette but also genuine leather, jute, and other materials. We also do bulk orders for corporates.
👉 Explore our collection today!
