Suede for upholstery

The choice of a sofa model is determined by various criteria: size, purpose, color, functionality. But its upholstery, that is, the material itself, remains paramount. It determines the appearance of a product not only upon purchase, but also over time.

Faux suede will be the best solution for general furniture. It is analogous to natural linen. The upholstery of the sofa looks expensive and solid. At first glance, a product made from an unnatural fabric is no different from a natural material.

In turn, artificial design has a number of advantages:

• durable in terms of service life;
• does not lend itself to large stretching;
• difficult to break;
• resistant to dirt;
• not afraid of ultraviolet radiation;
• high level of moisture resistance.

In addition, textiles have the ability to stay cool to the skin in summer and warm in winter. Like any upholstery material, suede also has disadvantages. There are more positive points, but to extend the service life of the material, some features should be taken into account. Despite the fact that the product is difficult to tear, animals can easily cope with this task. Hosts should protect the sofa cover with furniture covers.

It should also be borne in mind that the fabric may not withstand the constant active influences of a small child. It can only be cleaned dry or with a little foam. Exposure to the surface must be limited in time.

Modern production allows you to create an analogue of natural material, which is not much different from natural textiles.

What is the difference between artificial suede and natural

To learn how to distinguish artificial from natural fabric, you should have an idea of ​​them, and also know what options for materials exist. Natural suede is leather that is processed with oils. The counterfeit material is made from a suede-pile fabric, impregnated with glue.

A high-quality natural product has a soft, pleasant to the touch pile. It has a high cost. This is due to the high costs of its production. You can determine natural material according to a number of criteria:

• porous structure;
• a trace of stroking the fabric;
• soft touch;
• specific smell;
• there is no fabric on the wrong side;
• high price;
• absorbs moisture quickly.

Knowing how to distinguish between natural and artificial materials will help save money. It is not logical to focus only on cost when buying furniture. An unscrupulous seller can pass off synthetic textiles as natural, and this will significantly increase the cost of the product as a whole.
The artificial material is uniform in structure and smooth.

On the back of the product there is a fabric. The touch of the material does not leave a dark mark on the finger or hand. The smell is inherent synthetic, sharp. Another easy way to distinguish non-natural surfaces is with water. Synthetic suede does not practically absorb moisture. All the characteristics inherent in a suede substitute will allow you not to overpay several times for a piece of furniture.

Characteristics of artificial suede

The demand for artificial materials is driving the struggle to increase the number of animals. Initially, the natural material was made from chamois leather. Later, the leather of deer, goats, sheep, antelopes began to be used for the production. But since the material at the exit is expensive, and its wear resistance is of an average level, they began to think about how to reduce costs.

A cheaper analogue was launched into production, which in turn became popular due to its wear resistance and high technical characteristics. When visually assessed, the material is no different from the artificial one. And in some features they even surpass it.

What is it made of, the composition of the fabric

The analogue of natural suede has a simple composition, among them:

• cotton;
• polyester;
• glue.

The glue is used on the basis of PVA. After finishing the fabric, it is covered with Teflon. This provides protection against moisture and dirt. Processing gives additional possibilities - the suede can be washed. The use of detergents does not in any way affect the properties of the fabric. The only thing to do after washing is to tidy up the pile.

The faux suede sofa should be brushed after drying. If the fabric is tough to the touch, then this indicates that it was laminated, subjected to gluing. This procedure is performed in order to rid the material of bubbling. It also eliminates stretching and wrinkling of textiles.

What is the name of faux suede

Non-natural suede is also called eco-suede. This is not quite the correct name, but manufacturers often use these words interchangeably. All eco-suede is a man-made material. But at the same time, not everything artificial is related to eco. It is understood that if for the production of fabrics were used means that do not harm the environment, then this material is eco.

All other products are correctly called non-natural suede elements. The material used for the upholstery may also be called Alcantara. Some manufacturers may portray this as a novelty in upholstery. But in essence, this is a regular synthetic suede. Therefore, it is worth paying attention not to the name of the material, but to the method of its manufacture, type.

Types of material

Among the types of manufacturing, 2 types of varieties can be distinguished:

• woven;
• non-woven.

Both types look no worse than similar non-synthetic materials. A piece of furniture, such as a suede sofa, requires attention and proper care. In the case of artificial upholstery, everything is simpler.

Woven method

This type is not very practical for furniture upholstery. More often, such textiles are used for the production and design of clothing and footwear. For sofas and armchairs, covers are made from it, which perfectly cope with the functions assigned to them. The principle of the production of the woven cover is the splitting of the microfiber filaments.

At first, the appearance of the product looks respectable, but it quickly loses its properties. The quality of the woven product can be improved by extending the processing time of the microfiber. The villi in the process of performing work are obtained in different lengths. The longer the manufacturer carries out the operation, the higher the quality of the suede is obtained.

Non-woven method

Non-woven material is obtained by applying an adhesive composition to a specially prepared surface. After applying the layer, the fiber is sprayed. If Teflon is added at the same time, then the material at the exit is much stronger.

For the base, synthetics, knitwear are used. It must be primed so that the glue can be applied in an even layer. The Teflon coating can also be applied after the lint has been sprayed. But this must be done without fail, since this is the main way to protect the coating from moisture and dirt.

Selection Tips

Artificial raw materials are becoming more and more popular. Since manufacturers can cheat with upholstery, the product from it should be able to choose the right one. Synthetic suede stands out among natural textiles. First of all, it is the price. For the buyer, the cost of the furniture and its appearance are important. Material costs determine the price of the furniture. When the main criteria are determined: type and cost, you should make sure that the material is selected of high quality.

If the choice is made towards artificial suede, then you should know that it is produced in different ways. The quality of the material and its service life depend on this. A product made with non-compliance with all production requirements will quickly lose its appearance. It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the material. The higher the density of the textiles, the longer the piece of furniture will last. But at the same time, you should not choose overly dense fabrics, since a suede sofa will look rough.

By texture, three types can be distinguished:

• porous;
• smooth;
• with perforation.

If the fabric has irregularities, then it looks like natural leather. The material is easily moisture and air permeable. A smooth finish is low cost but requires careful maintenance. The coverage is often chosen based on the permeability of the room. The smooth finish is easy to clean.

Embossing looks expensive, but a sofa with such upholstery is best placed in an office or library. The choice of color does not affect product quality in any way. Therefore, there are a lot of options. The colors should be determined based on the general interior of the room where the sofa will be located.

Use cases

Most often, the consumer chooses suede as the upholstery of furniture items. If the sofa or chair in the room has lost its appearance, but the structure is strong and can be used, you can make a constriction. Today, such a procedure is easier and cheaper than purchasing new interior items.

At a textile store, you can choose a suitable fabric option. Many buyers believe that it is easier and more reliable to choose material in a store than on a finished structure. The store provides an opportunity not only to study the fabric from the front and back layers, but also to consult with the manager.

If you are purchasing a sofa, you should ask the seller to demonstrate the material. Usually, manufacturers attach a piece of fabric to the inside of the structure. And if you do not focus on this, then consultants can simply remain silent about this feature.

Faux suede is often used by shoemakers who specialize in handmade shoes. High-quality material will be in no way inferior in characteristics to natural material, while the cost of shoes and sneakers can be significantly reduced. The same parameters can be attributed to the production of clothing.

Textiles easily show themselves in work. It is easy for a cutter to work with him. With proper care, a jacket or jacket will serve its wearer for a very long time. Suede can be used as a decorative element. They can partially repair furniture, give old furniture a new look.

Care advice

For a suede product to last a long time, it needs to be properly cared for. Whatever properties suede has, it should be remembered that this is a fabric. She tends to get dirty. This is especially true for light shades. Eco-friendly materials are easy to clean, but they should not be exposed to aggressive agents.

If we are talking about curtains, curtains, then they can be washed. This procedure must be performed manually. Machine wash is mechanical stress that the material may not be able to withstand. A hand wash mode would be ideal, without twisting. After washing, the garments must be placed on the hangers of the trempel. Proper and gentle care will extend the life of your suede product.

Avoid the appearance of greasy stains on the surfaces of such fabrics. They eat into the product, it is impossible to remove them. For this reason, sofas, chairs, and other artificial suede products are not installed in the kitchen. If a fatty formation does appear on the fabric, then the only option is to remove this area of ​​the coating and replace it with a new piece of material.

Manufacturers recommend only dry cleaning for suede products. Various designs, items of clothing, shoes, furniture that contain inserts, or are completely made of artificial suede, are accompanied by instructions. Care recommendations can be asked to voice the seller.

Since it is difficult to independently determine the method of performing the material, it is necessary to pay attention to the advice of the manufacturers. They know the type with which the product is made, which means that the instructions for fabric care will be correct. With proper care, the fabric will remain intact for a long time after purchase.

Video: faux suede London

Options for a suede sofa in the photo