Genuine Leather vs PU Leather Bags: How to Tell the Difference at a Glance
In short: Genuine leather is made from tanned animal hide: heavy, expensive and high-maintenance. Faux leather (PU leather) is a manufactured material that looks like leather, but it's lighter, cheaper, easier to clean and handles water better. All ECADRA leather bags are made from PU faux leather, not genuine leather, and that's on purpose: it lets our art prints hold on and keep their colors bright.
What is PU leather?
PU is short for Polyurethane. It's a coating applied over a fabric base, giving you a material that looks and feels close to leather. That's why it's also called "faux leather" or "vegan leather".
How to tell genuine leather from PU
- Check the edge (the cut side): genuine leather has a rough, fibrous edge; PU has a smooth edge, or you can see fabric underneath.
- The pores: genuine leather has irregular pores that look different in every spot. PU has a repeated, uniform grain.
- The smell: genuine leather has a clear leather smell; PU smells more like light plastic, or of nothing at all.
- The weight: genuine leather is noticeably heavier.
- The price: a real genuine leather bag is rarely cheap. If the price is super low and it says "genuine leather", ask questions.
Pros and cons of each
| PU faux leather | Genuine leather | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Cheaper | Much more expensive |
| Weight | Light | Heavy |
| Water | Handles it better and wipes clean easily | Stains and needs care |
| Prints and colors | Prints hold on in bright colors | Hard to print colorful artwork on |
| Lifespan | Good with normal use; can peel over time if exposed to high heat | Lasts years with proper care |
Why does ECADRA use PU leather?
The whole ECADRA idea is that the bag itself is a work of art: cats, flowers, Pharaonic art, abstract, and hundreds of designs. PU leather keeps the prints in colors that don't fade, keeps the bag light, and keeps the price reasonable. We also have fabric bags (canvas, Oxford and polyester) if fabric is more your thing.
How to care for your PU leather bag
- Wipe it with a cloth dampened with warm water and a little mild soap, and never soak it.
- Keep it away from direct sun and high heat for long periods, like a car dashboard.
- Don't put sharp things inside that press against the print.
- Store it stuffed with paper so it keeps its shape.
Quick questions
Are ECADRA bags genuine leather? No, our leather bags are PU faux leather, and that's stated on every product page.
Does the print fade? No, the print holds up with normal use. Cleaning is spot-cleaning with a cloth.
Is ECADRA the same as CANVAEGYPT? Yes, ECADRA is the new name of CANVAEGYPT. All the FAQs are here.