Real and Faux Leather
What Does Pleather Mean?
Pleather means plastic leather: a plastic fabric made to look like leather, a word first recorded in 1982. What it's made of and other words for it.
Pleather means plastic leather. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a plastic fabric made to look like leather". The word is a blend of plastic and leather, first recorded in this sense in 1982.
This answer is part of our hub on real vs faux leather.
Define pleather: the dictionary answer
Both major dictionaries say the same thing. Merriam-Webster calls pleather a plastic fabric made to look like leather, and Cambridge calls it an artificial material made to look like leather. Cambridge lists it as an uncountable noun, as in "pleather seats".
So pleather is a casual name, not a technical grade or a material spec. It covers any plastic leather look-alike.
What kind of material is pleather?
Pleather is artificial leather: a fabric base coated with plastic and given a leather-like texture. The two usual coatings are:
As of 2016, PU was more popular than PVC for artificial leather. For the full production steps, see how faux leather is made.
| Coating | How it's built | Care note |
|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane (PU) | Base fabric, PU coat, color coat, textured finish | Washable |
| PVC (vinyl) | Fabric covered with a soft PVC layer, sold as leatherette | Not easily cleaned |
Other words for fake leather
Pleather shares its meaning with leatherette, imitation leather, faux leather, vegan leather, PU leather and pseudoleather. The full list, with where each name comes from, is on what fake leather is called. For one of those names in detail, read what leatherette is.
On US labels, a leather-look item that isn't leather should say so, with wording such as "Imitation leather", "Simulated leather" or "Vinyl". "Pleather" isn't one of the listed examples.
Is PU leather vegan?
PU leather contains no hide, and "vegan leather" is one of its trade names. Whether every glue and dye in a given item is animal-free is up to its maker; we found no source that settles it. See is vegan leather real leather?
Pleather vs. real leather
Real leather is tanned animal hide. Pleather is plastic on fabric, and its surface may rub and wear off with time. The side-by-side comparison is in leather vs. pleather, and the home tests are in how to tell real leather from faux leather.
Leather Collection doesn't sell pleather or any other faux leather. Its men's leather jackets name the hide used on each product page.
FAQ
Why is it called pleather?
It's a blend of the words plastic and leather.
Is pleather waterproof?
It depends on how it's made. Some artificial leathers are porous and breathable, while others are impermeable and waterproof.
How do you care for pleather?
Check which plastic it is. PU artificial leather is washable, but PVC types are not easily cleaned.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.