Artificial suede (or, as it is also called, Alcantara) is a textile material that imitates natural suede fabric and is an interweaving of natural and synthetic threads.
Due to its unique composition, this material is wear-resistant, resistant to the negative impacts of factors such as sunlight, high humidity, and does not require much maintenance.
Natural suede and its imitation are distinguishable only to the eye of an expert, but the price of the former is significantly higher. The fabric is velvety, tactilely pleasant and soft, unlike natural suede upholstery, it does not form creases and is not afraid of scratches.
Considering that the characteristics of artificial suede are no worse than those of natural suede, and in some cases even much better, it is not surprising that artificial suede for furniture has earned such great popularity in furniture production.
The material is suitable for upholstery of almost any soft furniture and will take pride of place in the interior. Alcantara is especially often used for upholstery of a sofa.
Content
Types
According to the type of production, Alcantara is divided into:
- Woven;
- Non-woven.
The material on a woven base is the most expensive, but its quality is also higher. This fabric is made from special microfiber threads, splitting them into villi. The fabric is quite dense, visually attractive, but not practical enough for upholstery of upholstered furniture.
A sofa made of such upholstery will quickly become unusable and lose its originally attractive appearance. It is more suitable for making clothes.
For furniture upholstery, the second method of fabric production is more often used - non-woven. This type is obtained by applying an adhesive composition to a primed surface. Then they spray it with fiber, and use Teflon impregnation to give the textile wear-resistant properties.
The base fabric can be natural or synthetic. Mostly, a combination of polyester (75%) and cotton (25%) is used. This is the optimal ratio for a durable, easy-to-care-for product.
Advantages and disadvantages
Objectively, the material has more advantages than disadvantages. Let's consider each factor in more detail.
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Excellent value for money.
Compared to natural suede, which is much more expensive, artificial suede wins in terms of characteristics: it is durable, does not stretch, does not scratch, does not wrinkle or tear. A sofa made of such upholstery will never “go bald”. | 1. Despite its wear-resistant characteristics, it may not withstand animal claws and other sharp objects. |
| 2. Moisture-repellent properties thanks to Teflon lubricant. | 2. Light-colored material is more susceptible to contamination. Teflon impregnation may not be enough to protect the fabric from deep stains. A special sofa cover can save the situation. |
| 3. Artificial suede practically does not change its color over many years of use. It initially, unlike natural suede, has a more even color and does not fade under the influence of solar radiation. | 3. Any stains that appear can only be removed by dry cleaning. |
| 4. Visually and tactilely pleasing textiles. Suede furniture creates coziness in the interior, adds warmth. The product covered with this velvety material makes you want to iron it endlessly. This type of furniture upholstery will be appropriate both at home and in the office, because its appearance is quite respectable and does not look cheap. | — |
| 5. If you follow the care instructions, this type of upholstery can be called unpretentious. In case of contamination, it is necessary to use only dry napkins and brushes for cleaning and only after the contaminated area has dried. | — |
| 6. When spandex is added, the fabric drapes well and fits the garment beautifully. | — |
How to choose correctly
When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Color;
- Degree of Teflon treatment;
- Pile height.
It is better to avoid light upholstery. Since stains on it are more visible, and getting rid of them later is a very troublesome task. In general, the color palette is huge. You can choose a shade for almost any interior.
You just need to know some rules: washing should be at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees. Otherwise, the adhesive part of the product may be damaged.
Once the Alcantara has dried, you can easily restore its pile with a brush. The presence of Teflon impregnation should be clarified with the seller when purchasing.
In the store, you can also find types of upholstery with long or short pile. The length of the pile affects how long the material will last. A sofa with a long pile deteriorates faster.
Among the upholstered furniture on sale there are examples with an unusual to the touch, rough surface. There is no need to doubt the quality of the material itself.
This is the same artificial suede, but laminated for extra durability. This treatment also helps to keep its shape, but is more suitable for an office environment.
Thus, if you need furniture that simultaneously creates coziness and gives the interior a noble look, then the choice is undoubtedly better to give suede finishing.
VIDEO: Faux Suede Sofas.
50 photo ideas of furniture made of artificial suede:
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