hides and skins<\/a> will be used for leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, let’s take a look at the appearance of each material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The appearance of patent leather and leather are the easiest ways to tell them apart. Patent leather has a high shine and an almost wet look to it that is caused by a coating of plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This gives patent leather its name; the word “patent” refers to this type of glossy finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leather, on the other hand, has a more natural matte finish. In addition, leather can be treated with oil or wax to give it a shine, but this is not the same high-gloss shine you will see on patent leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The advantage of the appearance of leather over leather is that it does not show scratches as easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that we have looked at price and appearance let’s move on to durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Feel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leather has a more natural feel to it because it is a porous material. This means it can absorb moisture, making it more comfortable to wear in hot weather. Patent leather, however, is glossy, non-porous, and does not absorb moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, patent leather is often stiffer than regular leather, making it less comfortable to wear when compared to leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To conclude on this point, leather has a more natural feel, while patent leather has a more glossy synthetic feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Type Of Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The type of smell you get with patent leather and leather is also quite different. Patent leather has a strong chemical smell because of the plastic coating that is applied to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, leather has a more natural smell because it is an organic material. The smell of leather is generally influenced by the tanning method, dyes, and finishes that are used on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While certain types of leather will have a stronger smell than others, the smell of leather is generally not as strong as the chemical smell of patent leather – especially when they are new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you have both materials at hand and are trying to figure out which one is, you can take a quick sniff test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Breathability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leather is a much more breathable material than patent leather. This means that it will absorb and release sweat much better than patent leather, making it a more comfortable material to wear in hot weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patent leather, however, does not absorb sweat well and can make your feet feel hot and sweaty in warm weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To check the materials’ breathability, you can do a quick “water droplet test.” Place a water droplet on each material, and see how long it takes for the water to evaporate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will notice that the water droplet sits on top of patent leather and takes much longer to evaporate than it does on leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Water Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leather is not a waterproof material; it will absorb water if wet. This means that leather shoes are not the best choice for rainy days or snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patent leather, on the other hand, is more water-resistant because of the plastic coating that is applied to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, patent leather is the way to go if you are looking for a material that is more resistant to water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Scratch Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Due to the glossy nature of patent leather, it shows scratches and scuff marks easily. However, leather is more forgiving in this respect as scratches can be buffed out or will eventually blend in with the natural aging of the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So you’re likely to see a lot more scratches on patent leather than on leather – especially if subjected to a lot of wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Wrinkle Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patent leather is generally more wrinkle-resistant than leather. This is because the plastic coating on patent leather prevents it from wrinkling as easily as leather. However, both materials will eventually show wrinkles with age and wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between both materials, patent leather will take longer to show wrinkles, but its wrinkles will be brutal when they do appear. On the other hand, leather will show wrinkles sooner, but they will be more subtle and, in most cases, should be easier to remove creases from leather than patent leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So take a closer look at both materials, and if you see wrinkles, even if the items are new, chances are they’re made of leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Stain Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patent leather is generally more stain-resistant than leather because of the plastic coating that is applied to it. This means that patent leather is less likely to absorb spills and stains than leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, both materials are susceptible to staining if not cleaned properly and in a timely manner. So be sure to clean up any spills or stains as soon as possible, regardless of the materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Maintenance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patent leather requires less maintenance than leather. This is because the plastic coating on patent leather protects it from dirt and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leather, on the other hand, needs to be conditioned regularly to prevent it from drying out and cracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, patent leather is the way to go if you are looking for a low-maintenance material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAll in all, leather and patent leather are two very different materials. They differ in smell, breathability, water resistance, scratch resistance, wrinkle resistance, stain resistance, and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, when deciding between the two materials, be sure to keep all of these factors in mind to make the best decision for you. Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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