Carefully selected PU and vegan leather options that deliver excellent performance with a reduced environmental footprint.
Selected artificial leather materials can be supported by supplier-held third-party certification. Certification availability and scope depend on the selected material article and project requirements.
MATERIAL SELECTION GUIDE
PU / vegan leather is used across custom phone cases, bags, small leather goods and accessories. Current SIMPLY product examples include PU-wrapped phone cases, faux-suede crossbody bags, magnetic card holders and woven key charms.
PU / vegan leather uses an engineered surface that can be produced in controlled grains, colors and finishes, while genuine leather retains natural fiber structure and variation. The right choice depends on the intended product, appearance, sourcing requirements and project budget rather than a universal material ranking.
PU / vegan leather can be developed through different material articles, grains, colors, thicknesses and surface finishes. Product-level options can also include stitching, logo application and construction details, subject to the selected article and design.
PU / vegan leather is a practical direction when a project needs consistent appearance, broad finish options or coordinated colors across a collection. In SIMPLY's project experience, standard PU is commonly selected for price-sensitive phone case programs, while supplier certification or compliance documents depend on the selected article and project requirements.
| Attribute | PU / Vegan Leather | Genuine Leather |
|---|---|---|
| Material character | An engineered coated material with a controlled grain and finish direction. | A natural collagen-fiber material with visible grain and surface variation. |
| Surface direction | Supports repeatable colors, grains, thicknesses and surface finishes across selected articles. | Natural characteristics remain visible; selection and inspection help control usable grain and thickness. |
| Customization | Article, grain, color, thickness, stitching, logo application and surface finish can be specified by project. | Leather selection, color, stitching, embossing, edge finish, lining and hardware can be specified by product. |
| Typical applications | Phone cases, bags, card holders and small accessories are represented in the current SIMPLY product range. | Leather goods such as the current genuine leather bifold wallet are represented in the SIMPLY product range. |
| Sourcing and documentation | Selected articles may be available with supplier-held certification or compliance documentation. | Selected leather may be sourced from audited or documented supplier programs when required by the project. |
Paint the Oil Base Resin on Liner
Foaming
Lots of water usage, high temperature foaming, containing chemical solvent, including VOC, Benzene, APEO.
Adhesive
Foamed resin adhesive to the backing fabric.
Finished PU
Still containing partial residue of chemical solvent from the foaming process.
Paint the Water-Based Resin on Liner
Water base resin contains no chemical solvent, only pure water.
Foaming
Machine foaming, with 95% less water usage compared with normal PU's high temperature foaming process.
Adhesive
Foamed resin adhesive to the backing fabric.
Finished Water-Based PU
No partial residue of chemical solvent because no chemical solvent is used during the process.
Collect & Recycle
Post-consumer or pre-consumer PU materials are collected and reprocessed.
Reprocess & Refine
Materials are cleaned, ground and refined into reusable PU resins.
Foaming & Adhesive
Processed with reduced energy and water, then bonded to backing fabric.
Sustainable Finished PU
High performance PU with recycled content, reducing resource consumption and waste.
Ultra-fine Fiber Base
Microfiber nonwoven fabric serves as the base material.
Resin Coating
PU resin is coated onto the microfiber base.
Embossing & Finishing
Surface is embossed and finished to achieve the desired texture and appearance.
High Performance Vegan Leather
Durable, lightweight and breathable vegan leather with excellent performance.
A release paper that makes the surface have variety of grain.
