Faux leather is usually made from a fabric backing, such as polyester, coated with a plastic layer like polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to mimic the look and feel of real leather.

What it’s made of

  • A base fabric, often polyester or another textile.
  • A surface coating of PU or PVC, which gives it the leather-like finish.
  • Sometimes added dyes, waxes, or texture treatments to imitate natural grain.

Why it differs

Faux leather is a synthetic material, so it usually costs less and avoids animal hides, but it may be less breathable and can crack or peel over time.

Quick scoop

In plain terms, faux leather is basically a fabric + plastic coating combo designed to look like leather.