Brentano’s Faux Leathers are made of Polyurethane or Nylon. Both are nonwoven and produced in a very different manner than woven textiles. First, to produce polyurethane faux leather, a polyurethane liquid is poured over a supporting material (a substrate). Second, nylon faux leathers are made by applying extreme pressure to a bed of micro deniers. Although these faux leathers do not contain warp or weft, they can be made to be as strong as or stronger than woven textiles.
Polyurethane based material was developed as a necessary alternative to extremely toxic, dioxin releasing vinyl (PVC). Because they are primarily made with natural resin, polyurethane textiles are biodegradable. Additionally, polyurethane is durable, versatile and less harmful to humans than leather. For more on polyurethane faux leather’s green story, see
Environmental Benefits of Polyurethane.
Because Polyurethane is biodegradable, it is designed to deteriorate after usage. Whereas PVC may be indestructible, it is important to remember it remains indestructible while sitting in a landfill and emitting dioxins. The life cycle of polyurethane can be specifically designed for the textile industry and for individual applications. Brentano uses standard leather tests on its polyurethane faux leathers, allowing us to tailor the fabric’s life length to specific applications, such as Outdoor, Upholstery and Ultra friendly polyurethane textiles. Brentano’s polyurethane based faux leathers are designed with their necessary life in mind and will naturally biodegrade when that life is over.
In addition to looking like leather, Nylon faux leathers are lightweight and strong. Because they are simultaneously dense and microporous, water vapor and heat are able to pass through the fabric. Breathability dissipates heat in warm weather and retains it in cold weather. The composition of Brentano’s nylon faux leathers has the same permeability to air and moisture as that of superior leathers. Nylon based faux leathers are durable, flexible and of the highest quality.