What is suede made of?
This might be a concerning question for most of us. The fashion industry carries suede as a fashion statement among the celebrities. It delivers fashion items such as suede jackets ,shoes, wallets, coat, bag, shirts and much more. It is a type of leather. It is soft and elastic . It has a velvety and fibrous and soft texture that feels like leather. It is said to have a napped finish due to the tiny hairs that provides fuzziness to it. Suede is made from animal’s skin, basically from the underside and bellyskin of the skin of pigskin, calf skin, deerskin, sheepskin and goatskin .
The fabric is soft as the underside of the animal skin is usually more softer than anywhere and it is prone to wager damage and stains , as unlike any other leather suede is not treated with chemical sealants.
Suede alternatives
Many people would argue that suede brings animal cruelty. Hence, many companies have found different synthetic vegan suede alternatives. Different manufacturers have attempted to create durable vegan suede different from original suede. For instance Toray, a well-known Japanese company with advance technology, managed to create a brilliant faux jacket. They called it Ultrasuede. It became popular within a month. After looking at the successful launch of this Japanese company many other competitors jump into the market to create a similar like product. Then there is another category called microsuede. You might see this material used in making the covers of sofas or chairs or even leather jackets because it is also water resistant and more durable unlike Ultrasuede. Then comes Alcantara:
It was developed in a joint venture between Toray Industries of Japan and the Italian company Alcantara. This fabric is virtually identical to Ultrasuede and like this similar synthetic fabric, Alcantara which is machine washable. The only difference is that Ultrasuede is more commonly used in industrial and consumer applications, Alcantara is used for high-end car interiors and designer handbag liners.
Moreover Suede silk has all the beneficial properties of silk and unlike regular suede, suede silk is machine washable.
Suede cotton:
Suede cotton undergoes a chemical process that makes the surface rough like suede. This type of fabric is machine washable.
Origin of Suede
During the 18th century the literary and artistic movement brought romantic era in France. Many new inventions were mean during this Era including suede which was driven from “gants de Suède” which means “gloves from sweden”.Women were font of wearing gloves in people of that time preferred soft material touching their skin therefore the product was especially imported from Sweden due to its Supreme quality. But the popularity of this material grew more and more and was not confined to only gloves but it expanded to shoes, bags clothes and much more. This trend grew in the 20th century. History proved that to be a very special material used by one of the most known artists in history such as Givenchy, Paquin and Hermes.
This is a unique sort of product which attracted designer from all over the world and they collaborated with the manufacturers to created different techniques and forms of this leather.
How is Suede made?
Essentially it is made from a material called corium which is a lava like material containing fuel, created in nuclear meltdown accident. Now look up on how corium is made.
First of all it is made from full grain leather when it is split in two. The lower part is taken into consideration which is also called split suede. It gives the texture a soft fine and thin look making the material more flexible
Another method of creating it is in order to reverse the full grain process. In this technique Unlike the above method the full grain is neither cut into two or split in two halves. Instead the full grain leather hide is created in a reverse process letting the corium come to the surface. Although it is less flexible yet it is more strong, tough, thick and very comfortable to wear.
Advantages of suede
.It has a long life
. The suede that is processed can be more thicker and more comfortable to wear.
. When compared to leather it stretches well and it is very much flexible
. It is velvety soft and it is nice to wear
. The fabric is breathable due to the presence of corium.
.it is a natural product so it is far more durable then man made products.
Disadvantages of Suede
. If compared to other leather, then suede is much more delicate to wear and tear and it can easily gets damaged.
. Due to its material it is more prone to dust and stains.
. It is not water resistant
. Due to its quality and softness and comfort it is not pocket friendly but it is very expensive.
. It is thin which means that it can get damaged easily
Does Suede Scratch Easily?
The answer is yes and it is because this type of leather is not properly process but it is sort of unfinished as it is totally a natural leather. After wearing suede some scratches might be noticeable in the fabric. But not to worry is it is common in this type of natural fabric.
Leather vs suede
Leather is animal skin that has been treated in various ways (commonly known as tanning) to preserve and soften the leather for use in leather jackets, accessories, and other applications. Suede is a special type of leather in which the inner surface of the leather is treated to create a pleasant texture.
Conclusion
Although Suede is thought as a cruel product due to animal slaughter and suede is different from leather, it is still a fashion statement in the market. It has its staple place in the fashion industry as it offers both comfort , warmth and protection to those who decides to wear it as a jacket, bag, outerwear or boots. It also offers a touch of elegance as an essential fashion accessory. It may not be as durable, waterproof, or tough as compared to leather, but it’s still useful for a variet of purposes and fit for everyday use.