Suede has been used to make clothing for hundreds of years. This material is loved for its beautiful appearance, practicality and long service life.

Modern technologies make it possible to produce various types of suede. For example, technical suede GOST 3717 is made from the skins of reindeer, goats and other artiodactyls. There is also artificial suede, which is a woven fabric.

The difference between natural and artificial suede

To find significant differences between different types of suede, you need to know the features of their manufacture. Natural suede is animal skin that has been specially treated. An artificial material is made from individual fibers using a woven or non-woven method.

To understand whether the suede you are looking at is artificial or natural, you need to carefully consider the material:

• uniform color. Natural suede never has a single color; if you run your hand over it, the color can change from dark to light. Faux suede does not have this feature;
• the wrong side of the product. Artificial suede substitutes always have a woven base; it is clearly visible even on untreated sections;
• natural suede has a characteristic leather smell, while artificial material has no smell or smells of chemical dyes;
• If a drop of water gets on natural suede, it will quickly be absorbed. Only a dark spot will remain. Synthetic materials do not absorb water well, so the drop will remain on the surface of the material for some time.

If you carefully examine the surface of natural suede, you can see that it is not uniform. The faux suede pile will be perfectly even, and the fabric will be continuous and smooth.

The material, which imitates natural suede, can be made in two ways. The woven method allows you to obtain higher quality and more expensive material. First, a cloth is woven from microfiber fibers, and then the finished fabric is processed on a special machine, which trims some of the fibers and forms villi. The result is a material very similar in texture to natural suede.

There is also another way to make suede. The fibers are glued in a special way onto the prepared base.

This material is more affordable than natural suede. And modern technologies make it possible to produce artificial suede, which is difficult to distinguish from natural one in appearance.

Watch the video for simple ways to clean suede:

Artificial suede is a natural or synthetic fabric with a pile on the front side. This velvety, pleasant to the touch fabric gives an indescribable feeling of comfort and warmth. Suede drapes easily, creating folds and ruffles, allowing you to create stylish clothing.

New generation textiles - artificial suede is not much different from its natural counterpart, and in some characteristics even surpasses it. It is more durable, wear-resistant, and is not afraid of chemical exposure and ultraviolet rays.

Signs of difference between natural suede and artificial suede

Since ancient times, natural suede has been used for sewing clothes and shoes. This popular material was made by fat processing the skin of chamois. The name of this animal in Polish sounds like zamsz. Today, suede is made from the skins of reindeer, antelope, wild goats, and sheep. This choice is explained by the high porosity and horizontal arrangement of fibers in the skins of these animals.

Artificial suede - an analogue of natural

An analogue of expensive natural leather has become artificial suede fabric, which has high strength and wear resistance, especially after treatment with additional water-repellent reagents. In appearance, these two materials are very similar to each other, so it is difficult for a buyer who does not have special skills to distinguish between them.

When choosing a suede item, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• natural suede does not exist without small scratches and pores;
• after running your hand over the pile, a trace of a different shade remains;
• The suede should exude a subtle scent of leather;
• genuine leather of good quality cannot be of low cost.

Production

Artificial suede, manufactured using modern technologies, is very similar in appearance and quality characteristics to natural material.

There are two production methods: woven and non-woven.

Woven suede is more expensive

The woven method is the most expensive, but the material is of higher quality. The essence of the method is as follows: a cloth is woven from microfiber fibers, which is then processed on a special device designed to split the threads into fibers that have different lengths and thicknesses. The longer the processing process takes, the higher the quality of the material.

In the non-woven method of making suede, the base fabric can consist of natural or synthetic fibers, knitted fabric and non-woven materials. First, primer is applied to the base, leveling the surface and protecting the material from being soaked in the adhesive. Then the base is treated with glue and finely chopped electrified fiber, which can be viscose, polyester or polyamide, is sprayed on. To protect the fabric from the penetration of moisture and dirt into the fibers, it is impregnated with Teflon on top.

Basic properties

Thanks to the latest production technologies, artificial suede is almost as good in quality as its natural counterpart, and in some properties even surpasses it.

Suede fabric has many advantages:

• the velvety and soft surface is pleasant to the touch and looks like natural material;
• durability and wear resistance;
• resistance to fading;
• Teflon coating prevents dirt from penetrating into the fabric;
• does not accumulate static electricity;
• abrasion resistance, which makes it possible to produce upholstery for furniture;
• uniformity of color;
• absence of kinks, scratches and other defects inherent in natural suede.

One of the properties of modern artificial suede that makes it similar to its natural counterpart is the ability of the fibers to change their position, leaving a mark on the surface after running the hand over the fabric.

Application

Fabrics that imitate suede are used in many areas of production: from the manufacture of clothing and shoes to furniture upholstery.

Suede or knitwear is necessary for sewing outerwear. Jackets, coats and jackets made from this material are soft and cozy, pleasant to the touch, and fit the figure well. Women's suits and skirts made of suede look great.

The fabric is denser and holds its shape well, so it is better to make costume items from it. The knitted base makes suede soft and pliable. This material drapes well and fits into folds; dresses, skirts, and blouses are sewn from it.

Suede accessory

In addition to clothing, artificial suede is used to make shoes and accessories: boots, shoes, boots, high women's boots-stockings made of suede on a stretch base. The fabric is used to make bags, wallets, belts and bracelets.

Suede fabric is very popular in furniture production. Due to its wear resistance and excellent appearance, it is used as upholstery for chairs, armchairs and sofas. Suede furniture will be appropriate not only in the apartment, but also in the office. Due to special treatment against moisture, furniture upholstered in artificial suede does not get dirty for a long time and can be used in living rooms and dining rooms.

Suede fabric is indispensable in everyday life. Everyone is familiar with suede wipes for cleaning car windows. They absorb moisture perfectly and leave no streaks at all.

Rules of care

If artificial suede products are regularly and properly cared for, they will retain their original appearance for a long time.

Suede clothing can be washed well with neutral detergents, gels and powders used for cleaning synthetic and woolen materials. It is better to wash by hand, using a sponge dipped in soapy water, laying the product on a flat surface. The temperature of the cleaning solution should not exceed 45 °C.

After washing, the product should be rinsed and blotted with a towel to remove excess water. It is better to hang dry clothes on hangers. To prevent water stains from forming on the bottom of the product during the drying process, blot the edges with a towel as they dry.

It is not recommended to wash clothes with a pattern on the front. If necessary, it can be cleaned with a soft brush dipped in soapy water, taking into account the direction of the pile.

If you need to use a stain remover, the product should not contain organic solvents. The stain removal operation is carried out using blotting movements.

Purchasing products made from natural materials is considered the most acceptable option. To avoid getting hooked by scammers, be sure to learn the main subtleties and differences between high-quality material and an equally well-thought-out fake. In our article we will talk about how to distinguish artificial suede from real one. Important points in choosing suede items, as well as recommendations for caring for them, can be found right there.

Characteristics of a natural product

The production of suede involves tanning and impregnating the skins of deer or sheep with special fats. The process produces thin leather with short fibers on the front part. Suede has a high heat capacity, breathes well and is very thin. The main advantages of using this material are described below.

Natural suede

Advantages of natural material:

• Exceptional strength, which is more surprising considering the fairly thin layer.
• They allow air to pass through perfectly without interfering with cellular respiration.
• They retain their original appearance for a long time.
• Exceptional softness and porosity of the material.

In the video this is what natural suede looks like

The disadvantages are the high cost. Despite the development of modern industry, tanning hides requires no less expensive methods than centuries ago. In addition, the quality of raw materials is also much inferior, so the problem of obtaining good suede is relevant every year. The second serious obstacle before purchasing (especially shoes and outerwear) is considered to be low moisture resistance.

The porous surface gets wet quickly, so use may be a little limited. At the same time, the use of special impregnations will help to at least partially solve this problem.

Characteristics of artificial material

Making faux suede also requires utmost care. There are two varieties of this fabric. The first is obtained by gluing small fibers onto a solid base. This is the least strong and durable option. Such a surface is easy to damage, so this suede is considered not so popular, but very cheap.

Natural suede

The second type of artificial suede involves the process of creating fibers using looped threads. Subsequently, quite high-quality pile is made from them. Of course, this option is more preferable, especially since it has a lot of positive aspects of use.

Benefits of faux suede:

Disadvantages include the inability to transfer heat. Faux suede products can make you feel cold, but in summer they are extremely hot. Faux suede is harder and has a shorter service life. Manufacturing technologies are constantly being improved, so it is worth paying attention to the durability of the coating, as well as the quality of the accessories used.

Main distinctive features

One of the main criteria for choosing a suitable item is its authenticity. Now the technology for producing artificial suede is so advanced that not everyone can distinguish between these options. The main criteria that you should focus on when buying suede items are described below.

How to distinguish suede from artificial material:

In order for a purchased pair of shoes or a favorite suede jacket to please its owners longer, special care conditions must be observed.

First of all, this applies to cleaning suede products. In especially difficult cases, it is better to use dry cleaning services, and to remove everyday dirt, be sure to purchase a line of specialized products. Brushes and erasers for removing dirt, as well as special impregnations and shampoos will extend the life of your favorite item.

Buying natural suede will not always be justified. Besides the cost, this may not be practical when it comes to some uses. Faux suede may be the best option, so the information below will be helpful.

Which material is better in which case?

Of course, it is best to purchase exactly the shoes and clothes that suit you. Many people prefer natural materials, but cannot always afford to purchase them. In what cases it would be more advantageous to give preference to artificial suede, we will discuss below.

Shoes

The season of use is the main purchasing criterion. As a rule, it is better to purchase summer and demi-season items made from natural suede. For winter use, this material is less resistant, and daily care can bring many not very pleasant minutes.

Suede shoes

Summer sandals with intertwined suede stripes are an excellent option for long-term wear. They won't get hot, they won't tear for a long time, and they always look chic. The material breathes well and will not rub your feet when walking. In this regard, an artificial substitute is appropriate only for infrequently used shoes.

Helpful advice: if you can’t buy two pairs of good leather shoes at once, you can use a tricky trick. To go out into the world, buy inexpensive shoes made from a substitute, since you won’t have to wear them very often (not to mention the changing fashion). It is better to purchase high-quality and natural suede for everyday use, because in this case the contact of the skin with the material will be longer. This simple rule will save your budget without harming your well-being.

Outerwear

In general, it is necessary to approach the issue more seriously, because when purchasing this or that item, you hope to receive only positive emotions from it. If your budget can't support the purchase of a genuine suede sheepskin coat, you may want to look into a quality substitute.

Suede outerwear

On the other hand, some improved characteristics of faux suede will make it much more comfortable. For example, the opportunity to choose the so-called stretch suede will allow you to better emphasize the advantages of your figure. Caring for products made from substitutes is simpler, and the range of suitable products is varied.

Furniture upholstery

Faux suede is often used for furniture. A soft suede sofa is a real dream. However, its operation may not be so long. In places of constant friction, suede easily wrinkles and forms completely unaesthetic bald spots. This negatively affects the appearance of upholstered furniture, and replacement requires enormous investment. In this case, artificial materials fully justify their existence, especially since furniture fabrics are usually produced with a certain “margin of safety”. They are designed for increased loads, are resistant to abrasion and are easier to clean. In this case, using high-quality faux suede makes more sense.

An important point: pieces of natural suede cannot be too large by default. If you are offered a huge sofa without the slightest trace of seams and a completely uniform color, you have a 100% guarantee that you will be deceived.

Bags

For a real woman, a bag is not just a container for necessary things. This is a kind of intimate detail by which one can judge the character of the owner. If you are planning to buy a bag made of this particular material, in addition to the recommendations given earlier, you need to pay attention to the quality of the fittings. The serviceability and reliability of locks and latches mean much more for long-term operation.

Another important point: the lining material. As a rule, a real suede bag may lack it partially or completely, but in place of the internal pockets its use is simply necessary. Fabrics that are too thin and loose quickly fail, and replacing them is very problematic. If you plan to use the bag in active mode, special supports at the bottom will also be useful, which will prevent rapid wear.

Accessories

All kinds of belts, bracelets and gloves can also be made of suede. When purchasing this or that element, it is necessary to judge, first of all, its feasibility. Of course, natural materials are always in trend, but for such details this may not be the decisive factor. For example, faux suede has more options for colors and decorative elements, such as drawing.

In some cases, you can buy a good wallet from a substitute, because here the accessories used are of greater importance. On the other hand, buying expensive suede gloves may be completely unjustified if the owner often “suffers” from forgetfulness and may lose several pairs at once during the season.

When making purchases, we all hope for long and trouble-free use of the item we like. Unfortunately, these expectations are not always met, so it would be useful to learn the basic rules for successfully choosing suede. This material is widely used in fashion and design, so things made from it can be found almost everywhere. Our article will tell you how to distinguish natural suede from artificial one, and in what cases you should choose an acceptable option. Also, what is the difference between nubuck and suede.

Instructions

First of all, natural suede, like jackets, jackets and shoes made from it, is much more expensive than artificial one. This is especially true for items from famous brands. Remember that a product made from real materials cannot be cheap these days. In addition, on branded items, a piece or suede is often attached to the label for its authenticity.

To distinguish a fake from an original, you first need to touch the item with your hand. Genuine leather and suede instantly warms up from human touch, while the materials remain cold. If you run your hand over the pile, it will definitely tilt, and the surface will seem to change shade - this is the very sign. The thickness and softness of suede depends on the quality of the workmanship, but it is always velvety to the touch. Real suede cannot have a fabric backing - then it is a 100% substitute. In addition, natural suede never delaminates, unlike artificial ones.

Natural materials cannot be completely smooth and flawless. The presence of small creases, scratches or pores is a sure sign of the naturalness of the item. When you bend something made of real suede - be it a jacket, there should be a small crease on the surface of the product, but after a few seconds the shoes or clothing should take on their original appearance. If possible, drop clean water on the item: natural suede will instantly absorb it, but with artificial suede the drop will simply roll off without leaving a trace.

Any item made of natural suede cannot have exactly the same color over its entire surface. In the production of shoes, only dyes based on plant components are used. Therefore, small shades, for example, on the sleeve and collar of a good jacket, are a sure sign of a high quality product. Such a thing will last a long time without losing its prestigious appearance.

note

The previously popular advice to set fire to a leather or suede product to determine its authenticity no longer works. Now the substitutes are also perfectly charred, and you can no longer tell them apart. In addition, everyone knows that real suede smells strongly, so manufacturers now treat artificial ones with special sprays.

Helpful advice

Although good suede products are now often coated with special dirt- and dust-repellent compounds, you still need to be careful when wearing them. Suede does not like moisture: if you get caught in the rain, be sure to dry your shoes by stuffing them with paper, and hang your raincoat on hangers, but not near the radiator or, especially, over the fire.

Dirt must be removed as quickly as possible using a special brush for suede or at least a regular eraser.

Sources:

• How to distinguish real leather from artificial leather

Clothes, shoes and accessories made of suede have not left the world's catwalks for many years in a row. But, unfortunately, very often the quality of suede leaves much to be desired. Also, often, under the guise of suede, we are offered another cheaper and less practical material. Therefore, the choice of suede products must be approached with special care.

Instructions

You ran your hand over the suede, now look at your hand. Is there a slight tint of paint left on it? Maybe you see a few loose lint? If there is neither one nor the other, it means that your suede product has successfully passed the second quality test.

Now let’s look at the product you just held in your hands. Are there any fingerprints on it? Visible prints are immediately revealed by nubuck or velor. It should not remain on natural suede.

Pay attention to the front surface of the suede product. High-quality natural suede will have a uniform color, fine and not loose pile. You should not encounter any worn areas or stains on the surface.

Natural suede is a flexible, soft and elastic material. Suede retains its properties even after getting wet and drying. Similar materials - velor or nubuck, on the contrary, become hard, unpleasant to the touch, and due to sticky fibers, upon close examination they lose their attractiveness. A “water” test is a sure way to determine a quality product, but naturally, you are unlikely to be able to do this before purchasing.

Take a closer look at the inside of the product. It should also be soft and pleasant to the touch. If the material looks a bit like velvet paper, it's most likely faux suede.

Helpful advice

On store shelves we can see dozens of models made of suede, both natural and artificial. High-quality artificial material does not differ much in appearance from its natural prototype, but it costs less, and therefore the question arises: is there any point in overpaying? There's a meaning! After all, when buying suede products, we pay not only for beauty, but also for comfort - softness, flexibility, elasticity, the ability to perfectly retain heat, in addition, suede allows the skin to breathe, which is very important for shoes. You are unlikely to find all these positive qualities in products made from artificial suede.

Leather is a beautiful, strong and durable material. Shoes, clothes, and accessories made from it are rightfully considered the best. Manufacturers also know this, but in pursuit of profit they often try to replace skin cheaper leatherette. Moreover, buyers are not always informed about this. And if you want to buy, for example, shoes that are guaranteed to be made of leather, learn to distinguish the real skin .

Instructions

Of course, you can navigate by a special label in the shape of an animal skin. But, as already mentioned, unscrupulous manufacturers can mislead you by hanging this label that is not made of leather. You can determine deception by simply comparing the material of the label and the material itself - it will be different.

First of all, look at the seams of the shoes. For products made from genuine leather, the edges are usually not stitched, but simply sanded so that they become rounded. If the edges are stitched, then you get a rounded roller. Faux leather has flat edges, even if they are stitched. In addition, it is much thinner than natural leather.

Next, find a place where the underside of the material will be visible, not covered by the lining. Genuine leather has a uniformly fleecy or silky surface, while leatherette usually has a smooth polyamide or other polymer base. But be careful - strips of leather near the fastener are not an indicator in this case - manufacturers can even sew them onto something other than leather for strength.

Distinguish natural skin It is also possible by how it reacts to influences. Bend the shoe or simply press on its surface. Natural leather will be covered with a network of wrinkles, which will quickly disappear. An artificial one will bend along one or several large bends, which will take much longer to smooth out.

You can also try to determine the shoe material by smell. Leather has a specific pleasant odor, which usually has a pronounced odor of polymer materials. But, unfortunately, natural skin from artificial leather this is not always possible - manufacturers can add flavorings or crumbs of real leather to the leatherette to give it the appropriate smell.

Apply water to the surface of the shoe and wait a few minutes. Shoes made of genuine leather will partially absorb it and darken in this place. The artificial material will completely repel water.

Video on the topic

note

Unfortunately, due to the huge range of leather substitutes, the methods described above do not always work. Therefore, you need to use everything that is currently available.

Related article

What fashionista doesn’t dream of having at least one product made of natural suede in her wardrobe. This material has amazing softness and incredible beauty, moreover, it is able to warm its owner and protect from moisture and dampness. Unfortunately, often artificial suede may be passed off as real.

Instructions

Please note the price. If, it will be an order of magnitude more expensive than its artificial counterparts. The low price should alert you first. Of course, high-quality fakes are often sold at prices that can match products made from natural suede, which is why it is necessary to pay attention to other parameters. Look at the texture of the product. Natural suede does not have a specific shape, and its pile is always directed in different directions. If you run your hand over such a surface, a trace of a different shade will definitely remain. But it is made so that the pile has a certain direction, so after stroking it with your hand, the marks on it are not so noticeable.

Real suede always has characteristic abrasions and pores. Carefully examine the surface of the product and, if necessary, bring it close to your eyes. You won't notice any minor scratches or pores on faux suede. Run your hand over the suede. If it is natural, it will be soft, tender and velvety, but artificial one seems smoother and harder to the touch.

Video on the topic

note

If you have already purchased a product and cannot understand whether it is natural or artificial. Pay attention to its properties. Shoes made of natural suede can absorb a large amount of moisture, but when dried they become soft and beautiful again. But if artificial boots get wet, you shouldn’t expect them to look the same.

Helpful advice

Place your finger on the product and see if there is a print left. Fingerprints do not remain on natural suede, but if you see a clear mark, you have a substitute.

Turquoise is a fairly rare stone, the peculiarity of which is the ease of falsification. Since turquoise is low-transparent and practically free of defects, its internal properties remain hidden, making it difficult to recognize a fake. However, there are several “at-home” methods for determining the authenticity of this stone.

Instructions

Wash the stone with soap, dry well and wipe. After immersing the turquoise in clean water, leave it in this state for several hours. Natural turquoise will absorb liquid and change color. Cahalong, varascite and faustite, often passed off as turquoise, will only absorb water. If the stone is treated with weak dyes, they will change the color of the water.

Apply the tip of a paperclip, heated over a fire, to the stone. In this case, the turquoise will become slightly discolored at the place of cauterization, the fragile cachalong will crack, and the plastic or imitation will emit an unpleasant odor, accompanied by a slight smoke.

Apply a thin layer of butter to the stone and check the changes after a day. Natural stone will absorb a sufficient amount of oil. Do not use margarine or vegetable oil for this test so as not to destroy the structure of the stone.

Pay attention to the shine of the stone: on well-polished specimens it is greasy, matte and waxy. Loose ones may not shine at all. There should be no glass shine on natural turquoise. Remember that natural turquoise changes its shade quite noticeably when worn.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• natural turquoise

Prepared leather is tanned by soaking it in the fats of raw hides - this is how natural suede is made. Artificial ones are produced by impregnating suede-like fabric with rubber glue. There are several ways to distinguish natural suede from its substitute.

You will need

• Water.

Instructions

Real high-quality suede is soft, velvety and pleasant to the touch. Please pay attention to the price of the product. Natural suede is always more expensive. The fact is that the process of producing natural raw materials is longer and more expensive than artificial ones. However, an unscrupulous seller may offer you a “natural” product at an unreasonably high price. Therefore, use some additional method to identify real suede.

You can smell the product. Real suede has a subtle smell of leather, artificial suede smells like synthetics. Pay attention to the reverse side of the item. The reverse side made of fabric indicates that this is not natural suede.

Made from animal skins, natural suede is porous and is always susceptible to scratches and small cracks. The canvas of artificial material is homogeneous and smooth. Run your finger over the item. A mark will remain on natural suede, which will differ in shade from the general background of the product that has not been touched. The color of unnatural suede will not change in any way when you run your hand over it.

Place a small drop of water on the product. On natural suede, only a spot of water will remain, which will instantly be absorbed into it. Water will linger on the substitute. Due to its porosity, natural material conducts not only air and water, but also heat. Put your hand on a product made from natural raw materials, it will instantly warm up, while an artificial one will remain cool.

Carefully examine the edges of the item. Those that belong to a product made from real material do not delaminate or fall apart. Also make sure there is a piece of sample suede, which is usually attached to the back of the natural product, or on a tag.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find leather material in the store. But if you have such a thing that you know nothing about at home, then you can check it. Suede can be washed in soapy water without deteriorating its quality. After washing and drying, a product made of this material remains as soft and dense as before. And if you wash and dry velor, it will probably lose some of its presentation, become less flexible, rougher and harder to the touch, the pile may even stick together. In addition, there is a danger of color change, because... Dyes are washed out.

Things made of velor have an attractive appearance, are beautiful and have good heat-protective properties, so they, like suede, have the right to exist. But items made of velor do not like moisture; over time they become shiny and scuffed. Therefore, if you have such products in your wardrobe, get ready for the fact that you will have to look after them very carefully. And then they will serve you just as well as suede ones.

Tip 8: How to distinguish natural Christian Louboutin shoes

Taking advantage of the popularity of Christian Louboutin brand shoes, some companies also started producing similar shoes. However, if you want to purchase a genuine branded product, you need to understand that a well-known brand is distinguished not only by the bright red color of the sole.

The main important features are:

• only genuine leather and suede;


• made in France (not in Italy or other countries);


• the red sole is glossy with shine, there is a logo on it (if the color is matte, then it is a fake);


• heels that don’t wear out for a long time (they are always light);


• impeccably neat seams (especially pay attention to the back ones);


• inside there are also only natural materials, there is a brand logo on the insole;


• the toe never rides up, the entire sole stands firmly on the ground;


• if there is a slot in front, it is ideal in shape and size, the toe does not slip forward;


• price: branded shoes from Christian Louboutan cannot cost less than 700 euros, because they are handmade.

Shoes from Christian Louboutan are not necessarily classic. The designer has developed many models of traditional, sports, and eccentric shoes for every taste. These include models with spikes, sneakers with laces, and combined shoes made of different leather tones. But they are all distinguished by practicality and quality.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Suede fabric is a cotton or silk fabric with a pile on the front side. It received its name due to its external resemblance to natural suede - animal skin that has undergone special treatment with vegetable and animal fats, characterized by increased softness and water resistance.

Natural and artificial suede - what is it?

Natural suede has been popular since ancient times. Initially, it was obtained by fat tanning the skin of a black goat, or chamois, hence the name: French. chamois - chamois, passed into the Russian language through the Polish language - zamsz. Nowadays it is made from the skin of any small animal. This is a fairly expensive material from which outerwear, bags, belts, gloves, and shoes are made. It is distinguished by high strength, ductility and abrasion resistance, and has the smell of genuine leather.

Expensive natural suede has been replaced by artificial suede. It is also wear-resistant, especially with additional impregnation with water-repellent agents.

Production

Modern artificial suede visually has a great resemblance to natural one. There are two main methods for producing such fabric:

1. On a woven basis. It consists of a primed fabric backing onto which a suede covering is glued. A special glue is used, based on PVA.
   It can be laminated - using heat treatment, the fleecy part is glued to the backing. The fabric is impregnated with Teflon on top, protecting it from dirt and water penetrating the fibers. If you pour a little liquid onto the surface of such suede fabric, it will not be absorbed, but will gather into balls and they can easily be removed using a piece of cotton fabric. The basic properties of the resulting product depend on the type of substrate chosen.

2. Produced on a special brushing machine by splitting the base fabric into small fibers.

Woven suede is much more expensive than non-woven and has a number of advantages: it is more durable and does not deform or stretch over time.

Basic properties

Thanks to modern production technologies, suede fabrics are practically not inferior in quality to their natural prototype, and in many ways surpass it and have only positive reviews:

One of the characteristics of modern eco-suede is the “writing effect”, which is typical for natural suede. That is, if you run your hand over its surface, the fibers will change their position and leave a mark.

Use and care

Suede-like fabrics are used in many areas - from clothing production to furniture upholstery.

Cloth

Suede fabric is often used for sewing winter and autumn outerwear - men's and women's coats, jackets, jackets. Suede suits, jackets and coats are made from jacket material on a cotton or knitted basis. The fabric is primed so that it is not saturated with glue, then a layer of glue and artificial or crushed in an electrostatic field are applied. To protect against moisture, the surface of the fabric is impregnated. Sometimes the pile is given a certain direction.

Suede clothing is very cozy and soft to the touch, fits your figure well, emphasizing all its advantages. Women's skirts, trench coats and jackets look especially beautiful and stylish. It is better to choose clothes in light colors, since adhered particles of dust, lint or thread will be very noticeable on black fabric.

Features of cutting and sewing

Basically, in the process of making clothes, suede fabric behaves the same as regular fabric, but it has some features.

• When selecting models, it should be taken into account that suede on a knitted base is softer, drapes easily and looks lighter. Therefore, it is better to sew dresses, blouses, and skirts from it. And the cotton backing makes the fabric denser, so it will hold its shape well and can be used for making costume group clothing.
• When cutting, you need to use regular scissors.
• On dense suede fabric, holes remain from punctures with a needle, so you need to be careful when basting, and also try not to rip the stitched fabric.
• The direction of the pile also has a peculiarity: if the piles are directed downwards, the fabric will have a slight shine, if they go upwards, the color will be brighter.
• Use sharp needles, the same type as for denim.
• It should be borne in mind that artificial suede does not allow air to pass through very well, so when sewing from it it is better to choose loose styles and avoid too tight ones.
• This fabric does not fray, so it does not require additional processing of seams. For beauty, you can overlock them or use zigzag scissors when cutting.

Care

Clothing made from this material is easy to wash and retains its original appearance.

• It is soaked for a short time in a soap solution (the water temperature should be between 35-40 degrees) and washed without much effort.
• You can’t wring it out, you can only blot it with a towel and then hang it on a hanger in a warm place to dry.
• Periodically it is necessary to blot the item with a towel to prevent smudges from forming.
• There is no need to iron it. If creases still form, you can iron them from the wrong side through the fabric.

Accessories and shoes

Faux suede is used primarily for women: shoes, boots, and popular high stocking boots are made from stretch suede.

This fabric is also widely used for sewing bags, as it is soft and easy to mold and drape.

Care

• Shoes and bags are cleaned using a dry sponge or a sponge soaked in soapy water, depending on the degree of contamination.
• After drying, use a soft brush to give the fibers the desired direction.
• Low-quality artificial suede can wear out on the folds and even crumble under light mechanical stress. Before buying clothes and shoes, you need to make sure that the products are of good quality.

Furniture

Suede fabric is very popular as a material due to its properties:

• Thanks to wear resistance, sofas and armchairs will delight you with their magnificent appearance for a long time. This upholstery is used not only for home furniture, but also for office furniture;
• This furniture looks very noble and is suitable for any interior. Will bring a feeling of warmth and comfort to the room;
• Suede furniture can be used in living rooms and dining rooms - thanks to special treatment, it will repel accidentally spilled liquids.

• thanks to a wide selection of textures, colors and patterns, you can choose furniture for any style of room decoration;
• will not stretch or deform, even if you sit on it often - suede fabric is very elastic and easily restores its shape.

Care

Easy to wash by hand or in the washing machine on the delicate fabric cycle. If the upholstery cannot be removed, and dirt has formed on the furniture, then you need to beat a detergent that does not contain solvents and bleaches into a strong foam, apply it to the stain and wipe it off with a sponge or cloth. After complete drying, it is necessary to brush the surface with a brush or dry sponge to restore the direction of the pile.

They absorb moisture perfectly and leave no streaks at all.

Store slightly damp in special plastic tubes.

Whatever suede fabric you choose, in order to increase its service life and maintain its original appearance, it should be regularly and properly cared for.