Modern technologies make it possible to fake skin so qualitatively that substitutes are almost impossible to distinguish from natural material. Specialists have learned to make not only the front side, but also the wrong side. As a rule, artificial leather goods have a specific smell, but some "virtuosos" interrupt it by adding leather chips. In order to understand how to distinguish natural from artificial skin, you need to know the basic subtleties and secrets.
How is the skin different from substitutes?
In everyday life, a person constantly encounters various leather products, so it is important to understand the difference between real material and artificial. The first passes air well and does not lose its characteristics from sudden changes in temperature values. This extends the life of the product and guarantees ease of use. But, of course, the price of the skin is much higher than its substitutes.
How to verify the authenticity of the material in the store?
There are a lot of ways, but not all are successfully implemented in life. For example, they will not set fire to a product in a store. Therefore, you need to know other, more loyal methods for determining quality.
- Water. To verify the authenticity of the material, a small amount of water should be dripped onto the surface. If the skin is natural, then the liquid will quickly absorb, and this place will darken. Artificial material will not change color and will not absorb water.
- Deformation. In order to figure out how to distinguish natural from artificial skin, it needs to be bent. If wrinkles have formed in this area during exposure and disappeared after its termination, this is an indicator of natural material.
- Slice. If possible, carefully examine the slice. Genuine leather should be much thicker than artificial, which is made on a textile or polyamide basis.
- Palm check. In this case, you need to place a palm on the surface of the product and wait half a minute. Natural material heats up very quickly and gives off heat, absorbing moisture. Substitutes cool slightly and do not accept moisture.
Smell
Artificial leather and genuine have one significant difference - the smell. Natural material smells in a special way, and it is impossible to confuse this aroma with others. Substitutes smell like oilcloth or plastic. But some unscrupulous manufacturers use special flavors that interrupt it. Therefore, relying on the purchase only on how the product smells is not enough. All signs must be evaluated in a complex.
Softness and elasticity
Usually, natural material is not as hard as artificial, but modern technology allows you to make a very soft substitute. The skin stretches smoothly and elasticly, although the tension in the areas is uneven. Artificial material is more like rubber. By clicking on genuine leather, you can feel its density and elasticity, and the dent quickly disappears. The artificial one is practically not pressed through, and the fingerprint is visible for some time.
This material is completely painted over, so at the fold the product should have the same color or lighter. Not knowing how to distinguish natural from artificial skin, it is necessary to pay attention to the wrong side. Substitutes may be based on fabric or other material. The skin inside is fleecy and looks like a fallen plush, only short. A piece of material from which it is made is always included with a quality product.
Fire check
The toughest but most effective method is fire testing. You can light a match and touch the skin. If it is real, then nothing bad will happen, but artificial material will certainly suffer: it will immediately begin to melt.
Naturally, you can not conduct such an experiment where necessary. You need to find a suitable place. This is due to the fact that some manufacturers treat the skin with substances that make it combustible.
How to choose quality shoes?
Today, even experienced craftsmen can not always determine how good shoes are. The easiest way is to look at a small sticker with graphic signs on the shoes. It indicates what the sole, lining and surface of the shoe are made of. If an emblem is drawn that repeats the outlines of animal skin, then the shoes are real. In the case when a diamond is shown, then synthetic materials are present. Gunny indicates that there is a textile component. But the inscriptions are not the only characteristic of the skin, so you need to look at the cut.
Material structure
The edge of the product is a very important indicator, since you can see the structure of the material. Edges should have a "raw", raw look, which is not the case with substitutes. Their slices are smooth and resemble plastic.
The basis of many products made of artificial materials is textile or polyamide, so sticking threads can be seen. The bent edges of the skin are thicker and rounded.
When thinking about how to distinguish genuine leather from faux leather when choosing shoes, you need to remember that the pores of substitutes are uniform and repetitive, in contrast to natural materials that have an uneven pattern.
Do not focus on the area that is located next to the "lightning", some manufacturers specifically add a small strip of leather there to give the product a natural look.
Appearance
To make it easier to figure out how to distinguish natural from artificial leather, you need to pay attention to the surface of the product. As a rule, substitutes are very polished to hide flaws.
Conclusion
In any case, no matter what shoes are purchased, you must always take a receipt from the seller, certified by the seal of the store. This will allow you to exchange goods or return money if the shoes prove to be of poor quality. But despite the advantages that natural material has, artificial leather also deserves attention.