Genuine leather or faux: how to recognise a real leather jacket?
In the world of ready-to-wear, leather is a symbol of elegance and character. But telling genuine leather from faux can sometimes be tricky. To help you choose an authentic piece that will last, Maison PARIENTE shares its expert tips for spotting a real leather jacket — and understanding why this choice makes all the difference.
1. Genuine leather vs faux: what's the difference?
🔍 Genuine leather
This is animal hide (lamb, buffalo, goat...), worked and tanned to produce a supple, resistant, breathable and living material. Every piece is unique, with its own grain, its own shading, its own small natural irregularities.
⚠️ Faux leather
Also called synthetic leather or PU, it's made of plastic covered with a finish layer that mimics leather. Cheaper to produce, it looks more uniform, but doesn't breathe and ages less well.
2. How to recognise a real leather jacket
Here are 5 telltale signs:
🖐️ Touch
Genuine leather feels warm, supple, slightly grainy. Faux leather is colder, stiffer, sometimes "plasticky".
👃 Smell
Natural leather has a distinctive, noble scent. Faux leather smells synthetic, sometimes faintly chemical.
👁️ Appearance
Real leather has an irregular grain, sometimes with very fine marks or natural creases. Faux leather looks too "perfect", too smooth.
🔥 Reaction to heat
Genuine leather doesn't melt — it develops a patina. Faux leather, on the other hand, can warp or melt when exposed to high heat.
🕰️ How it ages
Leather ages well. It improves, develops a patina, softens. Faux leather cracks, peels or tears over time.
3. Why choose genuine leather?
✅ For its durability
A beautiful genuine leather jacket can last 10, 15, 20 years — or more.
✅ For comfort
Leather is a breathable material that moulds to your body. Faux leather, by contrast, can cling or cause you to sweat.
✅ For elegance
No other material replaces the nobility of leather: its sheen, its texture, its natural drape.
4. And what about the environment?
Contrary to popular belief, genuine leather — when carefully sourced and processed in line with standards — can have a more responsible environmental impact than synthetic materials.
It's worth remembering that the leather used in fashion is, in the vast majority of cases, a by-product of the food industry: hides come from animals already raised for consumption. Making use of them rather than discarding them helps reduce waste and gives a noble material a second life.
At PARIENTE, we carefully select our leathers, prioritising quality, traceability and respect for the material. We believe in a more conscious fashion — where a well-made piece replaces one that's quickly thrown away.
5. Maison PARIENTE's commitment to quality
Every PARIENTE leather jacket is made from 100% genuine leather, carefully chosen for its suppleness, texture and longevity. We work with passionate artisans to guarantee a perfect drape, premium finishes, and a piece you'll enjoy wearing — and keeping.
Conclusion: a good leather jacket doesn't lie
Recognising a real leather jacket is above all a matter of feel, quality and craftsmanship. At PARIENTE, we do everything we can to offer you pieces that combine timeless style, noble leather, and lasting elegance.
