What is bookbinding faux leather and where is it used?

Very often, under the name PU leather they understand artificial leather, or as it has recently been called eco-leather, due to the fact that there is no need to use animal skin for its production. Nevertheless, from the point of view of terminology, it is more correct to call this type of material PU leather. On the other hand, it is incorrect to consider this type of modern coating to be an analogue of an outdated material called faux leather. It was a traditional but mediocre material that had been in production since the 1930s and was no longer used. The reason for this was many negative factors: poor aesthetics, toxicity (nitrocellulose was one of the main components), flammability and low performance. Therefore, since the 60s, more advanced materials have entered the market, based on polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, and then combinations of polyurethane and organic fibers. As the production technology improved, artificial leather acquired more and more advanced performance characteristics. For example, it has become more resistant to sun fading, and successfully counteracts the influence of other adverse environmental factors (high humidity and temperature). In its appearance, thickness and variety of colors and textures, eco-leather has become almost indistinguishable from natural. In addition, recently there have appeared not only indistinguishable imitations of natural leather, but also such advanced types of artificial coatings made of PU leather, which have even more perfect characteristics than natural material. E.g, increased moisture, UV and wear resistance, which is used in the automotive industry and furniture production.

Lighter, stronger and more elastic PU leather is widely used in the printing industry as an irreplaceable material for creating covers (palettes) of books, planners, diaries, business diaries and notebooks. About exactly this type of eco-leather we will  describe further.

How and of what is faux leather made?

Faux leather is made in several stages and usually consists of three layers:

• the first layer is a base of durable, coarse cotton fabric, predominantly white or black, which does not stretch or soak;

• the second layer is a foam material due to which the softness and volume effect of the upper textured layer is achieved, like in real leather;

• the third layer consists of polyurethane with the addition of a dye of the desired color, a synthetic high molecular weight durable material that is resistant to the sun and harmful environmental factors. The texture and relief that imitate the structure of natural leather is applied to this material.

If in your work you have not used artificial leather before, then don’t be afraid to experiment. We assure you that the result will impress and please you a lot.

Fabrika Decoru offers a large variety of eco-leather with numerous designs of extruded patterns in gold and silver: for example, golden flowers and feathers, polka dots, stars.

The leatherette used by Fabrika Decoru is made from high-quality Italian PU faux leather (the base is non-toxic, wear-resistant polyurethane on a non-woven basis).

PU eco leather blanks of Fabrica Decoru are very often used in creative works, as well as when creating covers (palettes) for albums, diaries, planners, notebooks, books, folders, etc. The thickness of the material is 0.65mm, which makes it easy to cut various decorative elements and details from it by hand, on a plotter or using punching machines. PU leather is easily stitched with a sewing machine, does not crack over time, and is elastic. The material can also be fixed with Universal or Professional binding glue from Fabrica Decoru. 

You can buy PU leather cuts for decorating books, notebooks, diaries and planners, as well as PU leather cuts with cold and silver embossing in the Fabrica Decoru online store with delivery across Ukraine, CIS countries and the world (wholesale and retail orders are welcomed).