What is a Vegan Leather Chair? Pros & Cons

People who love having an environment-friendly leather choice are well aware of upholsteries like faux leather and vegan leather. Both vegan and faux are the same things because they are imitations of real leather. However, vegan leather has improved so much over the ages that people often confuse a vegan leather chair with real leather.

People love having leather office furniture because that gives an executive look to your office room. We know that those of you who are not aware of what vegan leather is must be eager to learn more about it. Knowing more about vegan leather can help you make your first-ever purchase of vegan leather furniture.

Like any other upholstery leather office chair, the vegan leather interior will have its pros and cons. In addition, you must have a specific cleaning and maintenance routine for vegan leather office chairs. But how will you do that? Well, we are here to help.

As you read on, you will explore every detail related to vegan leather upholstery and vegan leather interior. So, let's begin with understanding what vegan leather is. 

What Is Vegan Leather?

Vegan leather is an imitation of real leather that is made using artificial or plant-based materials instead of animal hides. It is the same thing as faux leather. You will find vegan leather upholsteries made mainly using two types of polymers: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU).

The wrinkled texture of these materials (PU and PVC) is a plus here because they make vegan leather imitate real leather the most. A naïve user will never be unable to spot any difference between real leather and vegan leather furniture. The interesting part is that many designers and furniture makers are shifting towards vegan leather now.

All that might pump you up is to buy a vegan leather recliner or office chair. However, knowing the pros and cons is vital to have an unbiased review of this upholstery. 

Here are the pros and cons of vegan leather. You may explore them to learn more about vegan leather furniture. 

Pros of Vegan Leather 

Vegan leather is cruelty-free

The foremost benefit of having vegan leather is that it is free of animal cruelty. Real leather is made using animal hide, so people who are against cruelty towards animals are not a fan of real leather. Thus, vegan leather is a good alternative for them. 

It is quite affordable

The best part about vegan leather is that it is more affordable than real leather. Since there are multiple vegan leather sellers, you have a wide variety at your disposal. And most of the brands are quite affordable. 

The upholstery is soft and supple

Unlike real leather, vegan leather's upholstery is quite soft and supple. Thus, it is quite convenient to make furniture using vegan leather. 

It is environment friendly

Since vegan leather is made using artificial materials and plant extracts, it does not require a harsh tanning process. Thus, vegan leather can be considered environmentally friendly. 

Available in multiple colors

The real leather offers you selective colors only. However, vegan leather comes in a wide color variety. So, you can choose almost any colored vegan leather furniture.

Cons of Vegan Leather

The Vegan upholstery is not breathable

Although people love having vegan leather, you must know that vegan leather upholstery is not very breathable, especially PVC. 

It can get torn or punctured easily

Since vegan leather is quite soft, it can get torn easily as well. That's why vegan leather is not considered a durable choice when compared with real leather. But it can serve you well for up to two years or more if you take good care of its maintenance. 

It uses nonrenewable resources

Vegan leather is a synthetic material, so companies process it using oil to convert it to leather. Since oil is a nonrenewable resource, vegan leather production can impact the environment negatively. 

It cannot biodegrade with time

Vegan leather does not biodegrade with time because it is made using synthetic materials. It may break into smaller pieces of plastic with time. 

It does not develop the patina or glossy look like real leather with time

The real leather develops a glossy look with time. Vegan leather may have a glossy look, but it does not develop luster (patina) like real leather with time. 

How to Maintain and Clean a Vegan Leather Chair?

The cleaning and maintenance procedures are quite simple for a vegan leather chair. You may need a toothbrush, some mild detergents, and eucalyptus oil in some cases for cleaning a vegan leather office chair.

You have to look after the maintenance of vegan leather furniture by providing it protection against sun exposure, harsh chemicals, excessive abrasion, and dirty floors. If you plan to store these furniture pieces for some time, you should keep them in a dry place. You may put them in cover bags to avoid safekeeping, preferably.

If your vegan leather ever gets stained, you can clean it using a microfiber cloth, warm water, and a mild detergent solution. For general maintenance, avoid using harsh chemicals and make sure to keep the furniture dry to prolong its life.

For more tips on maintaining your office furniture, check out this detailed guide on how to clean your office chair. If you need help with cleaning your office chair wheels, this step-by-step guide will show you how. For those with mesh chairs, you can follow the recommended approach to clean a mesh office chair. To ensure your office chair seat stays clean, visit this guide on how to clean your office chair seat. Lastly, if your office chair has developed an odor, here are easy ways to deodorize your office chair.

Final Words

We hope that you have gained insights about vegan leather in this article. Selecting your favorite vegan leather chair would become an easier task now. However, if you are unaware of the right place to buy your favorite office chair, we would like to introduce you to our online furniture and office accessories store.