How to Spot Fake Leather: Easy Tips to Identify Real Leather
Walking around while browsing through the medieval ancient city of Firenze, you feel transported into a place remained stuck in time, where everything has been meticulously preserved and kept more faithful to its original form. Following this path we like to honor that same sense of authenticity in everything we create — carefully sourcing premium vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather from trusted local tanneries, and crafting each piece by hand. For us, true craftsmanship starts with respect for both tradition and the origin of every material we use.
To determine if a leather product is genuinely handmade, focus on details like the edges, grain, smell, scent and overall craftsmanship. Handmade leather often features burnished edges, a unique and irregular grain pattern, a distinctive leather aroma, and subtle imperfections. Look for certifications and reputable sellers who specialize in handcrafted leather goods to ensure authenticity
Both fake leather and low-quality genuine leather are often “sealed” under plastic-like coatings — but only one of them has animal origin.
Handmade leather often has smooth, rounded edges that are burnished (polished) with a tool, giving them a natural, matte finish. This contrasts with the often-coated or sharp edges of machine-made leather goods. An interested and passionate customer could inspect the edges for signs of hand-finishing, such as burnishing, edge dying, or a slight fraying (a natural characteristic of real leather). Avoid edges that look too perfect or plastic-like, as these are often a sign of machine-made or coated leather. Authentic leather has a unique and irregular grain pattern, with natural blemishes, creases, and pores.
Avoid products with a uniform, repetitive grain, which suggests it’s not genuine leather, but has probably been coated with a PVC layer.
- Real leather should feel soft, pliable, and slightly rugged. It should also wrinkle and move when pressed, resembling human skin. Faux leather will often feel cold, plastic-like, and lack the natural stretch of real leather.
- Real leather has a distinct, earthy, and slightly woody aroma, unlike the chemical or plastic smell of synthetic leather.
- Real leather will warm up when held in your hand due to its natural properties, while faux leather will remain cool to the touch.
- Handmade leather often has slightly uneven stitching, which is a natural part of the hand-stitching process. Little details and small imperfections guarantee the authenticity of the craftsmanship, reflecting the product’s true handmade nature.
Look for reputable sellers or brands that specialize in handcrafted leather goods and may offer certifications of authenticity.
High-quality handmade leather is an investment: Full Grain leather products, especially those crafted by hand, often come with a higher price tag due to the quality of the materials and the time and skill involved in the process.
