Ask Steph, Maya, and other non-leather bag devotees

April

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:

"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."

"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?

I'm not committed to one or the other, just want to know what the bag is made of.

14 years ago

General

9 replies

Latest reply was from rae

Lynne

Veteran

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 :).

14 years ago

April

Veteran

<bump>

14 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

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".

Hopefully someone else can shed some more light on this.

14 years ago

Steph

Veteran

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....

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

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.

14 years ago

Steph

Veteran

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.

That's my understanding, at least. Here is what wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicast_leather

14 years ago

April

Veteran

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.

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?

14 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Yes April, I thought the same thing. It's like the worst of all worlds!

14 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

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.

14 years ago

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