Is Vegan Leather Real Leather?

No, vegan leather isn't real leather. Leather is animal hide or skin that has been tanned, and "vegan leather" is one of the names for artificial leather made without hide. Most of it is a fabric base coated with polyurethane (PU) or PVC.

This answer is part of our hub on real vs faux leather.

Why it's called "leather"

"Leather" here describes the look, not the material. Artificial leather exists to give a leather-like finish where real leather is too costly or unsuitable for practical or ethical reasons. "Vegan" points to the ethical reason: the Vegan Society defines veganism as avoiding, as far as possible and practicable, the exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

Labels draw the line clearly:

• US: the FTC guides say a product made of non-leather material that looks like leather should disclose it, for example "Not leather" or "Imitation leather".
• EU footwear: "leather" means hide or skin with its original fiber structure more or less intact. Other uppers are labeled textile or other materials, by pictogram or in words.

What vegan leather is made of

Most vegan leather on sale is PU or PVC on fabric. Other versions use cork bark or materials grown from fungi, yeasts and bacteria. Whether a given one contains plastic is answered in is vegan leather plastic?. Our page on what vegan leather is covers the types.

In this video from the MarisArmoury channel, a leatherworker cuts, sews and marks samples of cactus, pineapple-leaf and cork "vegan leather" next to a piece of chrome-tanned leather. Watch for the fabric backing she finds on the cactus and cork samples; she also says she doesn't know whether the cactus material contains plastic, so the maker's material list is where to check.

Downsides to know

• The surface of some artificial leathers can rub and wear off with time.
• PU can break down by hydrolysis, reacting with moisture in the air, even in storage.
• PVC needs a phthalate plasticizer to stay flexible.

We found no reliable source for how many years vegan leather lasts, so we don't give a number. See how durable PU leather is and can faux leather get wet?

Is vegan leather the same as faux leather?

Mostly, yes. Both are names for the same family of man-made materials. The differences in usage are covered in is vegan leather the same as faux leather?. If you're checking an item, use how to tell real leather from faux leather. For another common name, see what pleather means.

Leather Collection doesn't sell vegan leather; a store search for "vegan" returns no products. Its gear is made from leather such as cowhide, and its men's leather jackets name the hide on every product page.

FAQ

What is the lowest quality of leather called?

Bonded leather is the one US guidance says shouldn't be sold as plain leather. It's shredded leather scraps bonded with polyurethane or latex, with 10-90% leather fiber. It isn't vegan, because it contains leather fibers. See what genuine leather means.

What happens when vegan leather gets wet?

That depends on its construction: some artificial leathers are breathable, others waterproof. See is faux leather waterproof?