How Would I Know Real Leather?

Consistency

• Real leather should not feel like a mix of different fibers; to touch, it should feel like it came from a single source. To test, run your hand down a leather garment. If it feels consistent throughout, it's likely to be real leather. If, however, you detect differences in the coarseness and consistency, then the product may be blended from a variety of different fabrics rather than pure leather.

Surface Pores

• Look at the garment or sofa in question close up so you can see the pores that cover the surface. Fake leather items factory produced on a mass scale usually display an even distribution of pores so the pattern looks consistent across the entire surface. The pores on natural leather items, in contrast, are usually much more inconsistent in terms of spacing and size.

Odor

• The distinctive smell of leather bears little resemblance to faux leather and other fiber blends. If you're familiar with the smell of leather, assess your garment for the same odor. Visit a leather store to refresh your olfactory memory if you're not sure. If your garment matches this odor, it is probably the real deal. Leather retains its odor over time and the smell can't be artificially added to lesser materials.

Price

• Most people like a bargain, especially with typically high-priced leather products. However, a low price may indicate a man-made substitute. If you find something that seems like a steal, ask yourself why the price is so low. Some stores look to clear last season's winter wear to make way for new stock. In such cases, you may well find a bargain. However, if the garment or sofa is the height of fashion and similar products are priced much higher in other stores, then the item probably isn't made of pure leather.

Labels

• This one seems obvious but checking the label of your garment or sofa can be quick way of telling whether it's the real deal or not. Leather-effect products usually bear labels reading "faux leather" or "made from synthetic fibers" or "man-made material." Not all manufacturers are honest in their labeling, however. If you buy a garment from a street vendor or a disreputable store, it may not have a label at all.