The full name of microfiber leather is “microfiber reinforced leather”. Microfiber leather is wear-resistant and aging-resistant. It has excellent breathability, softness, and comfort. In addition, microfiber leather has strong flexibility and the environmental protection effect advocated now.
Microfiber leather is the best-recycled leather. The texture of the microfiber leather is very similar to that of real leather. And it feels as soft as real leather. It is also difficult for outsiders to tell whether it is genuine leather or regenerated leather.
Microfiber leather is a newly developed high-grade leather in synthetic leather. It is a new type of leather. Because of its advantages of cold resistance, breathability, softness, environmental protection, and beautiful appearance, it has become an ideal choice to replace natural leather.
The microfiber skin has excellent performance. In foreign countries, due to the influence of animal protection associations, the performance and application of microfiber leather have surpassed natural leather. After adding microfiber, the toughness, air permeability, and wear resistance of the microfiber skin have been further strengthened. There is no doubt that the performance of such finished products is quite excellent.
The difference between microfiber leather and genuine leather:
genuine leather
microfiber leather
Exterior.
The appearance of microfiber leather is close to genuine leather. But after careful comparison, the pores on the leather surface are relatively clear. The texture is more natural. Microfiber skin has no pores because it is artificial skin. The texture is now more regular and neat. And some low-end microfiber skins may have a plastic feel.
Weight.
The proportion of leather is generally 0.6, while that of microfiber leather is 0.3-0.5. That is to say, microfiber leather is much lighter than real leather under the same conditions. For example, a bag of similar size and material can be distinguished in weight.
Odor.
Since the leather is animal skin, it not only has a peculiar smell but even a bit foul smell. If formaldehyde and heavy metals exceed the standard during processing, the leather will often have a pungent smell. The taste of microfiber leather is lighter. But some low-end microfiber skins may have a strong plastic smell.
Performance.
Both microfiber leather and genuine leather have very good and practical performance. Microfiber leather may be more wear-resistant and aging-resistant. Genuine leather will be more comfortable and breathable. Of course, microfiber leather and leather can achieve a certain balance in terms of comprehensive performance.
Draw materials.
Genuine leather is limited by the size of the animal hide. Therefore, the physical properties of the varieties are not uniform. Microfiber leather is more convenient to obtain materials. The quality and performance are more uniform and stable.
Price.
Typically, real leather (top-layer leather, of course) will be more expensive than microfiber leather. Moreover, the price of genuine leather will fluctuate due to changes in supply and demand. However, some microfiber leathers are very technological and will be more expensive than real leather.
Cowhide is the leather of cows. According to the layer, we can divide it into the first layer of cowhide, second and third layer of rawhide. In general, the breathability and comfort of the first layer of rawhide are better. Unlike sheepskin, cowhide is firmer to the touch. Therefore, it is also more suitable for making leather shoes, leather bags, belts, and other products. Sheepskin is more suitable for making leather clothing.
Of course, the top layer of cowhide with softer leather can also be used to make leather clothes. As a kind of genuine leather good, we should pay attention to its cleaning and maintenance when using cowhide products. This keeps it from being damaged. Let’s take a look together!
What is cowhide?
Cowhide refers to the hide of a cow, which is cut from the cow and then undergoes a series of processing. Then, we make the cowhide from wet hide to dry hide. And then make various styles of products from dry hide embryos. It is widely used in various industries.
The features of cowhide are that the pores on the leather surface are small and round. And it is distributed evenly and tightly. The leather surface is bright and smooth, with a plump and fine texture. Meanwhile, its appearance is flat and soft. The texture is firm and elastic when touched by hand. If you squeeze the leather surface hard, small wrinkles will appear.
What are the types of cowhide?
1, According to the type of cattle
Yellow cowhide: The leather surface is plump and bright. The leather board is soft, fine-grained, strong, and elastic.
Buffalo leather: The pores are thicker and rarer than that of yellow cowhide. The leather is looser. It is generally used as the sole of leather shoes.
2, According to the gender and growth time of cattle
Bull leather: Adult bull leather with a firm surface and good grain. It is suitable for making high-end leather shoes.
Cowhide: Cowhide that has grown up or has given birth to a calf is suitable for dry clothing and glove leather.
Calfskin: This usually refers to cowhide that is less than a year old. The cortex is delicate and soft, but the yield is less. So it is good to make smaller leather goods.
3, According to the layer of cowhide
Top layer cowhide: It refers to the raw leather of cows that is processed through tanning, dyeing, coating, and other processes. Moreover, its texture is soft and elastic. In addition, it also has good strength, elasticity, and process plasticity.
Two-layer cowhide: It refers to the two-layer leather with looser fibrous tissue. Then, it is processed by chemical material spraying or covered with PVC and PU film. Generally, we use it to make leather products, which have a certain elasticity.
Three-layer cowhide: the third layer of a cowhide after a piece of cowhide is mechanically split. This layer of skin is called “three layers of cowhide”. This kind of leather is generally street goods.
Which is better, cowhide or sheepskin?
Comparison of feel
Cowhide feels tough and not very extensible. The surface has a strong sense of concave and convex. And the touch is obvious. Sheepskin feels softer. And the leather board is thinner, soft, smooth, and delicate.
Appearance comparison
The pores of the cow leather surface are small and round. In addition, its distribution is even and tight. Its leather surface is bright and smooth. The texture is plump and delicate, and its appearance is flat and soft.
The pores of sheepskin are also very typical, in the shape of “fish scales”, flat and small. In general, several pores are used as a group. The pores on the surface are finer than that of cowhide.
Cowhide
sheepskin
Texture comparison
Cowhide leather is thicker, strong, and more durable. After being made into leather clothes, it looks very crisp.
Sheep leather is soft and has good stretchability. It is softer and more comfortable to wear after we make it into leather clothing.
As long as it’s genuine leather, there’s nothing good or bad about it. Cowhide is more suitable for making shoes, bags, belts, and other products. However, leather garments made from sheepskin are more comfortable to wear.
How to see the authenticity of cowhide?
Look at the texture
The genuine cowhide has the original skin characteristics of animal skin. Moreover, its surface has clear epidermal lines and textures. In addition, the fibers of the coat are intertwined but not messy. Its color is even and consistent, and the pores are clear, small, and tight.
Pinch the cortex
The genuine cowhide has good elasticity. Gently pinch to see irregular natural wrinkles. The elasticity of fake leather is average.
Smell
Real cowhide smells like heavy fur. Even after being processed at the factory, the taste is very obvious. The fake cowhide mostly smells like plastic, without the smell of fur.
What are cowhide products?
The texture of cowhide is relatively hard and thick. So we can use it to make leather shoes, leather bags, etc. In addition, we can also make it into cowhide mats. The cowhide mat is more transparent gas.
Moreover, it dissipates heat quickly, absorbs sweat, and resists moisture. Therefore, it is very suitable for summer use. We can also make cowhide ropes from the top layer of the cowhide. And then use them as leather labels, leather necklaces, bracelets, and other accessories.
How to maintain cowhide products?
How to maintain the cowhide bag?
Wipe off dirt with a clean sponge and mild soap solution, then wipe off with clean water. Then let the cowhide bag dry naturally. If the stain is stubborn, a detergent solution may be necessary. But it must be wiped carefully to avoid damaging the surface of the cowhide bag.
Try not to let the leather bag come into contact with the sun or close to any heater. Otherwise, the cowhide bag will become drier and drier. And the elasticity and softness of the cowhide bag will gradually disappear.
Please do not overload the cowhide bag. Avoid friction with rough and sharp objects to cause damage. Avoid roasting or squeezing. Keep away from flammable materials. Keep away from moisture. Then, keep away from acidic items.
How to maintain the cowhide belts?
When cleaning the cowhide belt, it is best to wipe it with a fine velvet cloth. If we stain it with rainwater or other stains, never wipe it directly with water and gasoline. So as not to appear on the leather surface wrinkled. Instead, wipe dry immediately with a soft cloth. After wiping, put it in a well-ventilated place and let it dry naturally.
If the leather belt is discolored, we can wipe it with leather polish. Avoid wiping with leather shoe polish. When polishing the leather, use a soft dry cloth with a little polish on the belt and gently wipe it once or twice.
Avoid cowhide leather from dampness, mildew, and moths. During normal use, do not contact oil stains or acidic and alkaline substances.
How to maintain cowhide shoes?
We can’t wipe the stains on the leather upper with a damp cloth. Do not let it soak alone in the water. Otherwise, it will damage the color paste on the surface of the shoe. And it can make leather shoes hard and deformed.
In order to prevent the leather shoes from deforming, it is best to support the shoe tree. Then, put it in the shoe box. Besides, we should place shoeboxes in a cool place away from heat and lights. Do not squeeze, this is to prevent deformation of the shoe.
Before storing, be sure to let the leather shoes dry naturally. Remember to put some moisture-proof agent in the shoe box.
