A faux leather jacket peels for one main reason. As its name implies, faux leather is not a durable material, and that is why it peels. The synthetic materials used in the product will peel, flake, and eventually fall apart. There are several reasons why faux leather Jackets peel.
Faux Leather is a Flimsy Material
The term “Faux leather” is a polite or somewhat polished way of referring to fake leather or synthetic leather. Pleather is another name for faux leather. Any type of leather made from fabric and coated in polyurethane goes by these names. Your jacket made out of faux leather is prone to peeling due to its fragility. Real leather, on the other hand, neither wears so fast nor peels compared to faux leather.
Exposure to Heat can cause peeling
You probably know that faux leather will generally peel over time, and one of the reasons why your faux leather jackets will peel is heat. Due to the synthetic materials used in faux leather, it is more prone to heat damage. It’s no secret that faux leather is usually heat-sensitive, and with leather jackets, 10/10 worn outside, the heat will eventually cause your leather jacket to peel. Heat causes the chemical substances that are used to bond a faux leather topcoat to its lining or fabric to degrade, which will cause the material to disintegrate over time.
Real leather jackets, on the other hand, can withstand heat up to about 305°F
Peeling will occur if it is exposed to too much water and Humidity
Real leather jackets are porous; in contrast to faux leather ones. Because of this, too much water can remove the leather jacket’s essential oils, which make it supple.
Most faux leather jackets will hold up better to water than most natural or real leather jackets. Nevertheless, water still has a negative effect on faux leather in the long run. Furthermore, every faux leather jacket is not the same. There will be a variety in water resistance, but most of the faux leather jackets will be watertight. Numerous faux leather jackets you find are made of vinyl, which is waterproof.
Vinyl-backed imitation leather may not be waterproof due to seams, linings, paddings, or fabrics attached underneath (to imitate the flesh side). The padding or lining of your faux leather jacket will peel off if it is constantly in contact with water.
Additionally, some manufacturers of faux leather use calcium carbonate and other ingredients to stretch the material. The constant exposure of faux leather to water tends to cause these additives to break down.
Faux leather jackets peel with age
Aging is another common cause of faux leather jacket peeling. It occurs when a faux leather jacket outlives its lifespan. Leather jackets that peel are probably old, and it’s time to retire them or resuscitate them in some easy ways. A faux leather jacket is still not going to last you for a lifetime, no matter how well you take care of it, how well you maintain it, or how often you use it.
Inadequate care and maintenance cause faux leather jackets to peel
Your peeling faux leather jacket may also be the result of a lack of proper care and maintenance. There is a general perception that faux leather jackets are quite resistant, so they pay less heed to their maintenance and care. Nevertheless, you must remember that you also need to take good care of the faux leather items you own.
Faux leather jackets are prone to peeling if used frequently
With each wear, the faux leather jacket stretches out, and it goes through more wear. When you wear your favorite leather jacket all the time, and it happens to be made from faux leather, it will wear out. Worn leather will peel, crack, and flake. When I was in college and couldn’t afford a high-quality real leather jacket, my go-to was the ones made from faux leather.
Chemical cleaners and solvents can make faux leather peel
Many people think faux leather is not as sensitive to chemicals as real leather since much of it is plastic. Another misconception is that you can clean faux leather with any chemical cleaner you like. But the truth is using solvents or cleaners containing chemicals can damage your faux leather jacket just as heat and water can. Unlike pure leather jackets, faux leather jackets are prone to considerable damage when too many chemicals are applied to them. Consequently, they start peeling and cracking.
Conclusion
Faux leather jackets, undoubtedly, are gaining immense popularity and attention from leather lovers. In fake leather jackets, you can find every hue and style you could imagine; however, they cannot replace real leather jackets because they are not durable, have a short lifespan, and peel and crack so fast if not cared for properly.