Synthetic leather

Artificial leather or synthetic leather are those types of leather that look like real leather, but are not made of natural material and therefore may not be called so.

Because leather is a very precious material and damage and scars on the surface a lot of waste during production, a substitute was developed a few decades ago: Imitation leather is now used in many areas of fashion, including shoe production.

Visually, there is hardly any difference to real leather: The structure and feel are almost identical, and imitation leather is even less susceptible to fading from the sun. However, the technical properties of genuine leather - such as breathability or water permeability, among others - cannot be achieved anywhere near. Nevertheless, the synthetic material is a cheaper and no less attractive alternative to it.

A typical feature of imitation leather is the textile back. In most cases, it is plastic-coated, but sometimes it is also covered with leather - so even experts can't always tell right away whether the material is genuine or not. Genuine leather, however, has a much more irregular grain pattern. Since imitation leather is embossed by machine, the result is a more or less uniform, repetitive structure. However, this is also often the case with embossed leather.

The right care for shoes made of synthetic leather

Since imitation leather loses its integrated softeners over time, it should be cleaned and maintained regularly, otherwise it will become brittle and colorless. Wet and cold weather accelerates this process even more. While genuine leather needs to be impregnated before going out in the snow, this is not a must for synthetic leather shoes, but it is still an advantage. The protective layer avoids soaking up moisture, as synthetic leather absorbs it more quickly. It then combines with the dirt particles, which can then hardly be removed.

1. cleaning
Light dust and dirt can be removed quite easily with a damp cotton cloth. Coarse dirt, on the other hand, is removed with a shoe shine brush. The bristles should remove this dirt effectively, but still not be too hard so that no scratches occur. Alternatively, a soft sponge, such as the Bergal cleaning sponge, is also suitable. 

2. care 
For the care of artificial leather should be chosen only products that are specifically suitable for this material. Conventional sprays for genuine leather should not be used in any case, because they often contain grease, which causes damage to the material: The cream is not absorbed and leaves an unsightly greasy film on the surface. 

So, especially before wearing in wet and cold weather, it is recommended to impregnate imitation leather with a grease-free spray, such as Collonil Vario Spray Classic. The agent keeps the material elastic, prevents the softeners from escaping and effectively protects against dirt and moisture. 

Extra Tip: 
Synthetic leather shoes need to dry properly. Ideally, after cleaning, they are stuffed with newspaper, so that they retain their shape, and then placed next to the heater - but in no case on it: the surface can become dull and unsightly due to excessive heat.