Faux Leather Resource Guide

Whether you are looking to replicate the look of genuine leather, a textured fabric, or recreate a vintage diner booth, our extensive catalog of faux leather has you covered. Our portfolio includes a wide variety of the tried-and-true classic vinyl patterns perfect for refurbishment projects or to create a timeless interior. And our recent introductions include eco-conscious, phthalate-free vinyl and ink-resistant polyurethane built to meet the demand of high traffic upholstery applications. Our dedication to quality and value is exemplified in our vast selection and range of faux leather.

Faux leathers are in stock in our NJ Headquarters with select faux leathers also available in our CA Warehouse
Each yard of faux leather is inspected by our team to provide the utmost quality assurance
Faux leathers are sold by the linear yard in 1/8 yard increments
Samples and CFAs (Cuttings for Approval) are available upon request
View our Faux Leather Price List

FAQ: Vinyl (PVC) vs. Polyurethane (PU)?

Which option is the better choice? What’s the difference?

Each faux leather construction has its own strengths and limits. To determine what will work best for your application, first establish your design goals and environment of the project.

Aesthetics: PVC offers great versatility and is available in a wide variety of textures, embossing, prints, and colors. PU is also quite versatile, featuring a soft hand and provides the most realistic interpretation of genuine leather.

Performance Properties: PU upholstery offers a breathable and more comfortable seating surface, but requires special consideration and application methods when upholstering and cleaning to avoid issues such as cracking, peeling and puddling. PU is not recommended for use in non-air conditioned environments or outdoor applications. PVC offers a durable surface which is impermeable to moisture making it a great choice for outdoor, marine and healthcare settings. For both PU and PVC, it is very important that the manufacturer’s care and cleaning recommendations are followed in order to maintain the quality of the material and provide a long-lasting, attractive cover for your furniture.

FAQ: WHAT IS PROPOSITION 65?

Proposition 65 is a California law which requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals.

Proposition 65 requires California to publish a list of these chemicals each year. Since first publication in 1987, the list has grown to include approximately 900 substances, including a wide range of naturally-occurring and synthetic chemicals that include additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, drugs, dyes, or solvents. Listed chemicals may also be used in manufacturing and construction, or they may even be byproducts of chemical processes, such as motor vehicle exhaust.

A business can review the Proposition 65 list to determine whether its operations or products are likely to expose people in California to any listed chemicals. Depending on the level of exposure, the business may be required to provide a warning for those exposures. Determining anticipated levels of exposure to listed chemicals can be very complex, however. Many businesses, instead, choose to advise the public of the potential for exposure, whether below or above exposure levels, by simply providing the warning in every case. The warning typically looks like this:

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

The vast majority of our fabrics are certified by their manufacturer to be compliant with Proposition 65, and as such are not required to provide this warning. However, some products in certain categories such as faux leathers may tend to contain trace amounts of listed chemicals. In the interest of best informing the public, we choose to provide the Prop. 65 warning on these items.

FAQ: WHAT IS AB-2998?

California’ Assembly Bill 2998 (commonly known as “AB-2998”), went into effect at the beginning of 2020, prohibiting the sale and distribution of juvenile products, upholstered furniture, replacement components of reupholstered furniture, and the foam in mattresses (collectively referred to as “covered products”) that contain covered flame-retardant (FR) chemicals at levels above 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in California.

The law covers all upholstered furniture, whether new or reupholstered and without regard to whether it is for commercial or residential use. AB-2998 does not apply to cushions and pads intended solely for outdoor use. The law applies to all furniture whether sold in, or eventually brought into California. Compliance with this law is the responsibility of all who sell or distribute or manufacture covered products, at every level of the chain of distribution.

The vast majority of our fabrics are certified by their manufacturer to be compliant with AB-2998 and are available for sale in California. However, some products in certain categories such as faux leathers may tend to contain prohibited chemicals. Our website will indicate whether a textile is compliant or non-compliant with AB-2998.

FAUX LEATHER GLOSSARY

ADHESION	Indicates the force necessary to pull the coating (face) from the backing.
COLD CRACK	A test used to determine the temperature at which the upholstery maintains integrity and does not crack.
HYDROLYSIS STABILITY	Indication of the coated fabric's ability to maintain aesthetic and mechanical performance attributes after humidity exposure. This is a key factor in determining the performance level of a polyurethane construction.
PHTHALATE	A group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, pliable, and less prone to breaking. They are also referred to as plasticizers.
RECYCLED LEATHER	A polyurethane surface that is bonded with a backing composition of genuine leather scraps, fibers and adhesive. Also referred to as "bonded leather".

FAUX LEATHER KEY BRANDS & FINISHES

BEAUTYGARD®	Advanced protective finish featured on most Naugahyde vinyls. This premium topcoat creates a durable surface in which most stain and soiling may be removed with a simple soap and water solution.
BOLTAFLEX®	A performance brand of faux leather focused on enduring performance, beauty and value which has earned the trust of architects, specifiers, designers and furniture makers. Boltaflex contract upholstery stands up to the rigors of busy environments including hotels, restaurants, casinos, hospitals, and nursing homes.
ECOSENSE®	A performance brand that represents efforts to minimize the environmental footprint through sustainable product innovation and production processes. Products are phthalate free, AB-2998 Compliant and Prop 65 Compliant.
NAUGAHYDE®	The pioneer and premium brand in the coated fabrics industry. Naugahyde products are made in the USA.
NAUTOLEX®	Marine upholstery brand known for proven performance and innovative colors, textures, and designs. Nautolex products are engineered for the most demanding outdoor environments.
PERMABLOK+®	Advanced Vinyl Protection which enhances abrasion and stain resistance, and newly developed to boost resistance to dye transfer from other fabrics (denim, microfiber) that may come in contact with the coated fabric. Perfect for the hospital, automotive and marine markets. Vinyls protected by Permablok+ are easy to clean and care for.
PERMAGUARD®	Provides unparalleled resistance to stains, scratches, scuffs, and abrasion. This proprietary coating makes maintenance easy. Most difficult stains are effortlessly cleaned with a dry tissue, while stubborn soiling may be eliminated with a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water.
PREFIXX®	This industry-leading finish protects the integrity of the material and is engineered for coated fabrics to be cleaned again and again without showing signs of wear. Materials protected with Prefixx can extend the life of the product and reduce maintenance costs with easy cleanability and proven stain and abrasion resistance.
RESILIENCE	This topcoat creates a durable surface offering superior stain resistance while maintaining a soft and supple hand.
WRITER'S BLOCK™	An ink resistant technology for faux leather that offers the highest level of cleanability. With its repel & release stain-inhibiting system, it prevents ink, indigo denim dye, and other tough stains from setting into the material.