Natural and imitation leathers are often used interchangeably
Natural animal leather is a versatile material used by humans of all cultures for a wide variety of applications. If you have an aversion to using leather, or simply don't have access to it, you may find yourself in need of a good alternative. Whether you're looking to purchase products made from leather alternatives or use raw materials for your own projects, many synthetic and plant-based materials are available, according to different applications.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a popular replacement for leather, especially in the manufacture of clothing. It may come in the form of realistic-looking textured fake leather, or it may be used to create shiny, form-fitting clothes that can be flashier than leather while still producing a similar look.
Rubber
Compared to leather, rubber is more stretchy, but similar in appearance and strength to certain treatments of leather. Rubber is a popular alternative to leather for flexible shoe soles, some clothing (especially novelty clothing) and hand-held items or grips, such as steering wheel grips.
Denim
For a basic tough, long-lasting fabric that's often a good stand-in for leather, use thick, tightly-wound denim. Denim is a good fill-in for small handcrafted items where you would normally use leather, such as book bindings, billfolds or small pouches. Be sure to give loose denim edges a hem or coat them with hemming glue; although denim is comparable to leather in toughness and flexibility, unlike leather, it will fray.
Artificial leather
Artificial leathers are made using a wide variety of materials and processes, making it likely that you can find a fake leather that suits your tastes. While many fake leathers are made from different kinds of plastic, some earth-friendly, vegan faux leather is made from plant fibers and eco-friendly processes. Fake suedes look very much like the real thing, made with a realistic-looking artificial nap. Look to wholesale fabric suppliers for the widest selections of fake leathers.
Cork
Cork is an effective replacement for uses of thicker, tougher leather. One of the most notable of these is inner shoe soles, creating durable but soft platforms for feet. A special treatment of cork is also sometimes used as a fabric replacement to make softer "leather" products like handbags or wallets.
Wood
Wood is sometimes used as an alternative to leather in certain handicrafts and artisan items, such as sword sheaths or sculpted items that might be carved from wood rather than molded from leather. Oftentimes, you can also find wooden outer shoe soles and shoe bottoms carved from wood.
Tags: made from, shoe soles, alternative leather, carved from, carved from wood, fake leather
