Alternates to Leather

[f1humlam]

I know I may get run out of this forum for asking this, but if someone were to want to make something very leather like, but not leather, what material would you suggest?  I ask this because I would like to make my girlfriend something, but she is vegan and while likes the look, doesn't want to contribute to the animal side of things.

Thanks!

 

 

[rodneywt1180b]

I think they call it pleather.  It's not like upholstery vinyl and is intended for garment use.  Also search for faux leather and faux suede. You might try some decent fabric stores.

[f1humlam]

Thanks.  I know of the pleathers and such.  I should have clarified and if anyone had personal experience working with a particular brand of faux leather that they liked.  Something that could be used for a wallet or like.

[kiwican]

So let me get this straight. She won't take a real leather item made from a byproduct of the meat industry  (in most cases) because its an animal product. But she is OK with fake leather .The so called vegan leather which is a byproduct of the petrochemical industry? Hmm

[f1humlam]

Not asking for judgment.  Just asking a question.  I'm not the moral authority and I am sure you aren't either, she believes what she believes and it doesn't harm anyone, sorry if you have a problem with that.

[kiwican]

I'm a pretty laid back guy. But this winds me up. No. I'm not an authority but I have educated myself. I might suggest that you and your girlfriend do the same in the environmental impact of your vegan leather as it very clearly harms people.

[fredk]

21 hours ago, f1humlam said:

I know I may get run out of this forum for asking this, but if someone were to want to make something very leather like, but not leather, what material would you suggest?  I ask this because I would like to make my girlfriend something, but she is vegan and while likes the look, doesn't want to contribute to the animal side of things.

I'll try to tell you of what I've found; nothing artificial acts like leather.

I've used various faux leather materials. None have had any trade name on them; they've come from top material suppliers and fabrics outlets. Whilst ok for covering bus seats, or door cards and the like, which have been glued and sometimes tacked in place when it comes to sewing they can't take stitches without them ripping out.

Leather, like fabric, has fibres which hold stitches, faux leather is just a sheet of plastic, no fibres. Some like Leathercloth have a fabric on the rear to help with stitching but I've found that the stitching still rips the plastic.

I've bought the cheap Chinese made wallets made of faux leather just to see what they do. Mostly the parts are heat welded together and the 'stitches' are a heat imprint, not actual thread.

A few years ago I had woman bring an expensive leather handbag to me for repair; it cost her about $250 from a good named store. The stitching at certain points was ripping out. I took a snipping of the bag material and put a flame to it, it burnt like plastic, the bag was not leather at all. After 6 months use the bag was near useless.

A chap in my history-presentation society tried to under-cut me by making draw-string money bags of faux leather; 'just as good but half the price' he said. It cost him dearly. The bags were simply two same sized pieces sewn together with a lace thong going thru holes in the top edge to draw the bag closed. Within a short time of use the top holes were ripping thru and the stitching ripping out. He had to repay the buyers their money plus he was out the cost of materials and the time. My leather bags are still being used 18 years on.

What I'm trying to tell you is that any of these faux leathers are not suitable for likes of bags; they wont last. There are many faux leather bags for sale but they are designed for short term use and then throw away when they start to rip. Go to any thrift store/charity shop [in UK] and find out how many faux leather bags they are given which they have to dump because of damage.

If you still want to use faux leather; make a bag out of heavy weight material like cotton duck and use the faux leather as panel accents on it, where it wont be under stress

Just an opinion and thoughts on it.

[f1humlam]

21 hours ago, kiwican said:

I'm a pretty laid back guy. But this winds me up. No. I'm not an authority but I have educated myself. I might suggest that you and your girlfriend do the same in the environmental impact of your vegan leather as it very clearly harms people.

See the response below you as a proper response on this thread.  The person's opinion on the quality of it without passing judgment.  

4 hours ago, fredk said:

I'll try to tell you of what I've found; nothing artificial acts like leather.

I've used various faux leather materials. None have had any trade name on them; they've come from top material suppliers and fabrics outlets. Whilst ok for covering bus seats, or door cards and the like, which have been glued and sometimes tacked in place when it comes to sewing they can't take stitches without them ripping out.

Leather, like fabric, has fibres which hold stitches, faux leather is just a sheet of plastic, no fibres. Some like Leathercloth have a fabric on the rear to help with stitching but I've found that the stitching still rips the plastic.

I've bought the cheap Chinese made wallets made of faux leather just to see what they do. Mostly the parts are heat welded together and the 'stitches' are a heat imprint, not actual thread.

A few years ago I had woman bring an expensive leather handbag to me for repair; it cost her about $250 from a good named store. The stitching at certain points was ripping out. I took a snipping of the bag material and put a flame to it, it burnt like plastic, the bag was not leather at all. After 6 months use the bag was near useless.

A chap in my history-presentation society tried to under-cut me by making draw-string money bags of faux leather; 'just as good but half the price' he said. It cost him dearly. The bags were simply two same sized pieces sewn together with a lace thong going thru holes in the top edge to draw the bag closed. Within a short time of use the top holes were ripping thru and the stitching ripping out. He had to repay the buyers their money plus he was out the cost of materials and the time. My leather bags are still being used 18 years on.

What I'm trying to tell you is that any of these faux leathers are not suitable for likes of bags; they wont last. There are many faux leather bags for sale but they are designed for short term use and then throw away when they start to rip. Go to any thrift store/charity shop [in UK] and find out how many faux leather bags they are given which they have to dump because of damage.

If you still want to use faux leather; make a bag out of heavy weight material like cotton duck and use the faux leather as panel accents on it, where it wont be under stress

Just an opinion and thoughts on it.

Thank you for the response!  I appreciate the breakdown very much.

[kiwican]

3 hours ago, f1humlam said:

See the response below you as a proper response on this thread.  The person's opinion on the quality of it without passing judgment.  

Thank you for the response!  I appreciate the breakdown very much.

I stand by what I said. You raised the vegan issue. You raised the use of animals in the context of your girlfriend as a vegan. Perhaps it is you that should learn to phrase your questions better as your girlfriends views on use of animal for product and her lifestyle choice of being a vegan literally had nothing to do with a topic on faux leather.

[bikermutt07]

I like what @fredk said. Make her something that will last, and just add faux accents.

Then she can enjoy it for a good long while.

[kiwican]

3 minutes ago, f1humlam said:

You didn't answer the question I had, you just came in with judgement on my girlfriend's beliefs. If you think that is constructive then I guess it was.  To each their own. 

I guess you just can't see the connection here, or the inherent judgment in you stating that "she is vegan and while likes the look, doesn't want to contribute to the animal side of things".  The implication being that we leather workers club baby seals to death using baby moose or something? and that petrochemical "pleather" is somehow better 

[fredk]

Enough already

Back to your corners you two

Please

 

[kiwican]

1 minute ago, fredk said:

Enough already

Back to your corners you two

Please

 

But Im in a round room!!

[Halitech]

how do you drive a kiwi crazy?

 

 

 

put him in a round room and tell him to sit in the corner!

[f1humlam]

3 minutes ago, kiwican said:

I guess you just can't see the connection here, or the inherent judgment in you stating that "she is vegan and while likes the look, doesn't want to contribute to the animal side of things".  The implication being that we leather workers club baby seals to death using baby moose or something? and that petrochemical "pleather" is somehow better 

If you took that as the implication I apologize. I was just giving the reasoning why I was looking for a leather alternative in the first place. I'm done with this conversation as I didn't mean for anyone to interpret it as what you say. 

[kiwican]

Just now, Halitech said:

how do you drive a kiwi crazy?

 

 

 

put him in a round room and tell him to sit in the corner!

That wont work twice Hali!

[kiwican]

10 minutes ago, f1humlam said:

If you took that as the implication I apologize. I was just giving the reasoning why I was looking for a leather alternative in the first place. I'm done with this conversation as I didn't mean for anyone to interpret it as what you say. 

Peace