Why YSK: The term “Genuine Leather” is a marketing term to sell the lowest quality leather possible.
When purchasing a leather product, look for full grain leather or top grain leather instead. These will provide a much higher quality cut of leather that will look and feel much better and last for much longer.
This really is a perfect replacement for reddit, we even have the same reposted fun facts
I mean, reposting things that were on Reddit before would be a good way to get more content on here
Reddit does it with Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr…
Some of the bigger communities is literally just screenshots of what people say other places.
It would be pretty funny to see an instance that just pulls posts from subs and posts them to Lemmy. Not direct links to reddit, just copy the link/pic/video
Not quite. The truth is, there is no universally recognized grades of leather. But when bragging about quality, genuine leather is the lowest bar they can go (other than bonded leather, which isn’t fully leather but just a veneer over fabric.
Full grain or top grain is generally what you want.
https://lifehacker.com/what-genuine-leather-really-means-1850309049
Also, some are concerned about the use of an animal product. The vast majority of leather is a byproduct of the beef industry. It is skin that would otherwise go to waste. And it is also far more environmentally friendly a material than many alternatives, which are often made of plastics.
Yeah, honestly you should buy leather products based on brands than on description of “genuine” leather.
And agree, real leather is a much better alternative to the ridiculous amount of micro-plastic synthetic leather generates, especially since it’ll last you decades if you maintain it well.
Leather made from animal flesh is far worse for the planet than pleather, but if you’re really worried, you could just forgo both
https://twitter.com/jan_dutkiewicz/status/1645867376381169665?t=w7mjq-VuWZB6TAudzs7A9g&s=19
It’s the industry recapturing some of its costs by reducing waste. That’s still supporting the industry.
We applauded Native Americans for using every part of the animal, yet when we do it today somehow it’s a bad thing.
The skins are there rather you like the industry or not. Better to use them than throw them in a landfill.
By your logic, why don’t we flay off the skins of all dead people and wear those too? They’re just going to waste!
I’m opposed to the animal killing industry and all of its various outgrowths. The less money that can be made from it, the less money will be invested into the industry in the first place. If the skins end up in a landfill, that’s lost revenue that makes the industry suffer. Putting money in the pockets of these businesses just lets them reinvest. Stop trying to portray your choice to wear skin as somehow the more ethical one and preach from some imaginary moral high ground.
You should also know that technically only the piece marked as genuine leather needs to actually be genuine leather. If you buy something made with multiple pieces, the rest could be made from any material so long as that one piece is genuine.
“Made with natural and artificial flavors”… So just… made with artificial flavors then…
You know what’s cool about “natural flavors”? They just have to be found in nature to call them that. They can be synthesized in a lab and still be a “natural flavor.”
P.S. don’t fall for the naturalistic fallacy. This comment is about tricky vocabulary used by the food industry. Whether or not a chemical is found in nature has nothing to do with whether it is good or bad for you. Arsenic is natural.
If you think about it, it makes sense. All they are saying it’s that is actually real leather which is the least you could say about leather.
To add to the naming fun: Corinthian Leather.
Can somebody explain why leather is better? It’s it the smell? The feel? Tradition? I see it in car reviews where they complain about cloth.
It’s breathable but works in both warm and cold weather. This makes it ideal for spring and autumn. It’s easy to clean although it’s also hard to maintain (you have to oil it and protect it against rain). It lasts for very long if you care for it unlike fabric or fake leather, so a leather jacket can be worn for decades and still look and feel great.
Surely leather is skin and skin is very definitely non porous? Secrete oils from tiny glands? Yes. Let water through? Very much nope.
There’s various types of leather, some of which are actually porous. I’m no expert but you can Google it.
The point about rain protection isn’t related to the water getting through but because rain can contain chemicals and salt which can stain the leather and also make the leather brittle and vulnerable to mechanical damage, like getting cracks on it because it loses some of it’s natural elasticity.
This is usually prevented by oiling it and putting various rain protection products on it.
My best guess (not in the community or anything) is that leather does better at being durable—especially if you treat it well and condition it regularly?—than cloth and plastic-leather alternatives, which break down. I know leather is meant to be very durable and have good “properties,” but I can’t be specific.
I’ve had a leather belt for about 25 years now that I bought for like $10, wear it multiple times a week. In all those years I’ve gone through multiple other belts that haven’t lasted.
Far as I see it, leather belts are the most economical and better for the environment than constantly manufacturing lesser lasting belts.
It’s been designed by time. Why manufacture something that has been provided? Seems like an unnecessary step, and a large reason for much of our problems. My s.o. works leather as a hobby, and it’s really cool. All the stuff she’s made me is better than anything I’ve had before.
It is something people think they want because it is more expensive and in higher trim levels in cars. But when your car is parked in the hot sun the leather feels like it burns and in the winter is freezing to the touch. Leather also doesn’t breath so you end up sweating more and if your are not wearing long pants your leg will stick to the seat. Cloth is so much better functionally. Cloth also lasts longer than the fake leather they put in cars. Cloth won’t peel like the fake leather.
@BigTrout75 many people are sensitive to dust. A car with a leather interior is easier to clean. The dust cannot stick in the seats.
Mostly people like it because it’s expensive and it makes them feel rich. It is more durable than cloth but that hardly matters for most of the things it’s used for.
Hardly matters? Try having kids and a dog for 5 years with a cloth couch. The permanent stains and smell will be impossible to get out.
Real leather? Will hold up to everything and go for 10 more years.
Garbage leather? Will crack and tear the first time your dog gets on it.
Leather has issues (Ethical issues with how we treat cows. Elitists issues putting leather on every surface of their car whether it needs it or not, etc). But quality leather matters, and does make a difference in durability.
