Real Leather Holds its Value
Genuine leather garments and products typically hold their value, more so than faux leather. In the rare event that you decide you no longer want your leather jacket, you can always sell it — usually fetching the same or almost as much money for which you paid. This is in stark contrast to faux leather, which does not hold its value.
Faux Leather is Bad for the Environment (and Your Health)
No, that’s not a typo. Certain types of faux leather, particularly those made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are actually bad for the environment and your health. PVC is a harsh synthetic chemical that’s been linked to cancer. This doesn’t necessarily mean that wearing a faux leather jacket will give you cancer, but do you really want to expose yourself to these harsh chemicals?
Real Leather is Breathable
Although invisible to the naked eye, real leather contains thousands upon thousands of holes (known as pores) on the surface. These holes allow leather to breathe, absorbing and releasing moisture from the surrounding environment. Unfortunately, faux leather lacks this feature, which is one of the many reasons why people tend to choose genuine leather jackets over their faux counterpart.
Real Leather is More Comfortable to Wear
This alone should be reason enough to choose real leather over faux leather. While they may look similar in terms of appearance, genuine leather jackets and garments are significantly more comfortable than faux leather. They are softer, more supple, and have a certain “squishiness” that’s ultra-comfortable.
Real Leather Smells Nice
It’s hard to describe the pleasant aroma of real leather without experiencing it for yourself. It’s almost like a combination of pine, oak and caramel, which is something that many people enjoy about leather. Of course, faux leather lacks this naturally pleasing aroma. While some companies may attempt to recreate this smell with their faux leather products, it’s typically done with synthetic chemicals — chemicals that are most likely bad for your health.
As you can see, there are numerous reasons to choose genuine leather over faux leather. From its pleasant aroma to its soft, supple texture and value retention, these are just a few of the many reasons why you should choose genuine leather.