Long POST with a **CAUTION**

Dear Friends ~

Have you been seeing lots of ads lately for certain well-known handbag brands? (We won’t mention any names!) We have no objection to anyone buying a commercially made bag — whether it’s real leather or not — but if you want the *real thing*, it’s worth taking a moment to understand what you’re actually getting.

Not all of those famous-name bags are made from genuine leather. Many outlet styles and special collections are created from non-leather materials, including one called **Saffiano PVC**. The name sounds fancy — and confusing — because there *is* a genuine Italian leather known as *Saffiano*. The marketing, however, can be misleading.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what these materials really are:

* **Saffiano PVC** – A durable *synthetic* material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s embossed with the same crosshatch texture as real Saffiano leather, but it’s not leather at all.
* **PU Leather** – A man-made material created by coating polyurethane onto a fabric base such as polyester or cotton. It’s sometimes marketed as “vegan leather.” It’s more affordable and water-resistant than real leather, but it often looks and smells synthetic and doesn’t age gracefully.
* **“Vegan Leather”** – Typically another name for PU leather. Despite the friendly-sounding term, it’s still a plastic-based material, not an animal-free version of genuine leather.
* **Bonded Leather** - is made from the scraps and fibers leftover from manufacturing genuine leather, mixed with a polyurethane binder. These scraps are then rolled together using adhesives to bind the fibers together, onto a paper backing. A polyurethane coating may be added and embossed to create the texture of real leather. Most bonded leather only contains 10 to 20 percent real leather.

At the end of the day, you should absolutely buy what you love — just make sure you know what you’re paying for. A little awareness goes a long way when choosing quality materials.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'm happy to oblige. Send me a DM or Email kay.rye@solesurvivorlather.com or CALL 314-932-1475