1. Look first: observe the appearance details
Genuine leather (natural leather)
Surface texture: There are no completely regular textures. The texture and pore distribution of each piece of leather are different. The texture at the corners may have natural transitions and changes; smooth leather has a delicate luster, not the dazzling plastic feel.
Cross-section/edge: If you can see the cut edge of the bag, the cross-section of the genuine leather is fibrous, and there will be tiny fiber scraps when scraped gently by hand; the edge of the artificial leather has a smooth plastic feel, and the coating may even peel off.
Label information: Many brand bags will label the material on the lining, such as “Genuine Leather”, “Cow Leather” and “Sheep Leather”.
Artificial leather (PU/PVC)
Surface texture: The texture is very uniform and repetitive. It is machine-printed and has no natural pores; the PVC material is hard and glossy, like plastic; the PU material is relatively soft and imitates the feel of genuine leather, but the texture still has a "replication feel".
Cross section/edge: The edges are smooth and dense, without any fibrous feel. After bending with force, obvious creases will easily appear at the bends, and they may even turn white.
canvas / nylon
Surface texture: It is a woven fabric, and the lines of longitude and latitude can be clearly seen. The canvas is thicker and rougher, while the nylon is lighter and smoother; the color is usually brighter, and the surface does not have the luster of leather.
2. Touch again: Feel the touch and flexibility
genuine leather
Feel: soft and elastic, there will be natural wrinkles when pressed by hand, and the wrinkles will slowly recover after loosening; sheepskin is softer and more delicate than cowhide, while suede has a suede feel and is a bit astringent to the touch.
Breathability: When you put the leather surface on your face or wrist, it will feel breathable and not stuffy, and it will not feel stuffy like plastic.
artificial leather
Feel: PU is soft but has poor elasticity, and wrinkles recover slowly after being pressed; PVC is stiff and feels slippery and sticky (especially when the weather is hot).
Breathability: It is completely airtight. It will feel stuffy when it is attached to the skin, like a layer of plastic film.
canvas / nylon
Feel: Canvas has a rough fabric feel with a certain hardness; nylon has a smooth and light touch with good ductility.
3. Smell: identify smells
genuine leather
It has a light leather smell, which is the natural smell of animal fur and is not pungent; the smell of high-quality genuine leather will be lighter, even with a slight fragrance of care agent.
artificial leather
There is a strong plastic smell or chemical smell, especially for new bags. The smell will be very pungent. After ventilation, the smell will weaken, but it will not disappear completely.
canvas / nylon
It has a faint smell of fabric or dyeing pigments, without the smell of leather or plastic.
4. Small test: burning (limited to inconspicuous small parts, such as the corners on the inside of the bag)
Note: This method will damage the bag. Do not use it unless necessary. Before testing, be sure to confirm that it is in a position that does not affect the appearance!
genuine leather
When burning, there will be a smell of burnt hair and feathers; the ashes after burning are brittle black ash, which can be turned into powder by twisting it with your hands.
artificial leather
It will melt and shrink when burned, accompanied by a pungent plastic smell; the residue after burning is a hard plastic block that cannot be broken.
canvas / nylon
Canvas burns like burning paper, smelling of paper ash, and the ashes are gray powder; burning nylon will melt the drawing, and has a special chemical fiber smell, and the residue is a hard lump.