https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:39:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389875 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:58:54 +0000 rae 389875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>EW! I do like leather bags, but what is the point of this PU nonsense? Animal hide AND polyeurethane (which someone was telling me is terrible for the environment as well)... Steph is right: worst of both worlds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389786 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:18:41 +0000 Steph 389786@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes April, I thought the same thing. It's like the worst of all worlds! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389646 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:52:41 +0000 April 389646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for doing the research, Steph! I'm wondering if part of the problem is also that the description was written by someone whose first language is not English.</p> <p>In any case, I'm not comfortable with the ambiguity and won't be purchasing the bag. It seems like this material would bring with it all the disadvantages of leather *and* all the disadvantages of faux leather -- who needs that? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389473 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:32:11 +0000 Steph 389473@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Based on what I found on wikipedia, it sounds like it IS animal hide. Basically, it is a cheap, thin, layer of leather that is considered a cast-off. That thin layer is then covered in polyurethane. It doesn't have the traditional features of the "genuine leather" we are used to--it doesn't soften, won't change color, etc. Because it doesn't "act" in the same way that typical leather does, it isn't even allowed to be called leather in some countries. But it DOES start with an animal hide. </p> <p>That's my understanding, at least. Here is what wikipedia says: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicast_leather" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicast_leather</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389446 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:53:54 +0000 Maya 389446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That sounds wildly confusing and I have no idea. PU leather is in and of itself a contradiction. In my experience it's either one or the other. It sounds to me like it's a bit of both, but the "not from an animal" throws me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389383 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:43:52 +0000 Steph 389383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, I have no idea. I have never heard of it before, but I agree it sounds contradictory. Maybe I'll do a little googling.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389284 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:46:50 +0000 Inge 389284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That does sound contradictory April. I too have always been told that bonded leather consists of small leather scraps, so that's definitely "from an animal".</p> <p>Hopefully someone else can shed some more light on this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-389105 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:46:10 +0000 April 389105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&lt;bump&gt; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-388903 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:43:59 +0000 Lynne 388903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>hmmm...this sounds like reconstituted leather to me? I feel obliged to chime in and say I bought a belt like this once and it always felt a bit like cardboard to me....not sure if it will be the case with the bag, but, FWIW, I've avoided it ever since. Am watching this thread with interest :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-steph-maya-and-other-non-leather-bag-devotees#post-388889 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:12:21 +0000 April 388889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm looking for a new tote bag for work, and have been searching eBay. Can you help me understand what "PU leather" is, exactly? Here's the description that is confusing me:</p> <p>"PU leather, aka Bycast Leather, is Reconstituted Leather (small leather scraps) or Bonded Leather that is layered with thick Polyurethane to give it a sheen like real leather. The leather is not from an animal, making it cheaper than top grain leather, easier to clean and maintain, yet elegant option to consider."</p> <p>"Small leather scraps" and "not from an animal" seem like two contradictory ideas to me. Any thoughts on whether this material is leather or not? </p> <p>I'm not committed to one or the other, just want to know what the bag is made of. </p>