Even though it's not real leather, it may look the same. It's artificial leather, or leatherette, which we at FIXED hand-make into laptop cases , mobile phone cases, and shoulder bags . Read why it's so popular, what makes it better than real leather, and how to care for it properly.
You can purchase these products as part of the Ona Dnes Shopping promotion until October 20, 2024 with a discount of up to 25%.
The demand for goods made of artificial leather (leatherette) has been growing in recent years not only due to the reliability of this material, but mainly due to its environmental friendliness, as it does not require the use of animal skin in its production.
Leatherette as a substitute for natural leather
You will also commonly encounter artificial leather under the name leatherette or synthetic leather, and as the name suggests, it is an artificial material. It was created to replace classic natural leather as best as possible , which – as you will find out later in the article – has succeeded excellently. It is used in the textile industry, the automotive industry (e.g. seat covers) and in furniture production, but also for the production of protective covers for laptops or mobile phones.
And what is most important for lovers of quality and luxury: you cannot distinguish leatherette from natural leather at first glance, on the contrary, it has several advantages over it, from a lower price to water resistance.
If products made of faux leather are well-made, they often look more elegant than goods made of classic leather. You don't have to worry about compromising on design.
Significantly lower price and easy maintenance
Over time, leatherette has improved so much that even previously staunch supporters of natural leather now prefer it. Products made from it have several advantages:
- It boasts a significantly lower price . In the case of more expensive products, the difference can be tens to hundreds of percent.
- It saves animals and nature in general .
- They are at least partially waterproof (i.e. if it rains, not every drop will penetrate the leatherette).
- They can be better customized in terms of design and color than natural leather.
- Even though it's an artificial material, if the leatherette is of good quality, it won't crack after a few weeks of use.
- It is easy to clean and maintain , and you can easily remove even larger stains.
FIXED leather goods are handmade in Prostějov
When we were looking for the ideal leatherette for some FIXED products, we wanted it to be as environmentally friendly as possible, to last for many years, and to be scratch-resistant. The artificial leather from the Agenda Line series from the Italian company Fiscatech meets this requirement.
This leatherette is made from materials that have the ability to change their physical properties based on temperature changes (i.e. adapt to a specific temperature), making it durable even after long-term use and in all weather conditions. It meets the strictest European standards in relation to the production cycle and the chemicals used and is available in a wide range of colors and shades.
We use it to make products such as the elegant Verona shoulder bag in a modern design with diagonal hatching (Saffiano design) , the Siena laptop or tablet case with a secure magnetic closure, or the York laptop case.
Did you know that all FIXED products are made of artificial leather by hand in our Prostějov workshop , where we take the utmost care of each piece? Thanks to this, it is impossible for a poor-quality or defective product to go on sale.
The better the care, the longer the leatherette looks like new.
Artificial leather can withstand a lot, but it's still useful to know how to clean and maintain it so that it lasts as long as possible without damage.
For minor dirt (such as light smudges), we recommend using a slightly damp cloth , which will easily clean the leatherette. We intentionally say damp, not wet – even though the material is partially waterproof, the less it comes into contact with water during use, the better.
If a damp cloth is not enough, you can also use cleaning products, but we recommend avoiding common chemicals that you use to wash furniture or other household items. There are a number of products specifically designed for cleaning leatherette .
And one more tip: if at all possible, do not expose leatherette products to sunlight for long periods of time.
What else is good to know about artificial leather?
We've already told you the most important things about leatherette, but so you have something to brag about to your friends, we have a few more interesting facts for you:
- Leatherette does not have the smell/smell of real leather . So if you have previously rejected leather products because of the specific smell of leather, this concern is no longer there.
- It is not true that artificial leather will crack after a few days of use. If it is made of high-quality material, which we use at FIXED, for example, it will last for many years .
- Faux leather is often much lighter than real leather and can be shaped easily, making it perfect for making small products such as shoulder bags or mobile phone cases .
Do you have any questions about FIXED faux leather products? Feel free to ask us any time in the chat here on the website. We will be happy to help you.