skai® Faux Leather

skai^® artificial leather is an excellent surface material. The imitation leather has attracted international attention and is a stylish, comfortable solution that fits an enormous variety of applications, from the interior design of high-quality residential and commercial areas, to the medical sector and outdoor use. Some of our artificial leathers also easily meet all fire protection requirements (B1 certified) – and thus provide a good alternative to real leather. Perfectly coordinated collections and innovations provide solutions for upholstery and furniture fronts of all kinds to merge into a single unit. Artificial leather made from PVC plastic gets top scores for durability, an indication of its genuine quality.

Contract furnishing

The commercial fit-out sector places high demands on our skai^® upholstery fabrics. Applications such as bed headboards in hotels and cruise ships or seating in restaurants and stadiums must be flame-retardant, to protect passengers and guests in the event of an emergency. Our products meet a wide range of flammability standards. Our skai^® Parotega NF and skai^® Palma NF products comply with the strict specifications for Class 1 fire protection.

Depending on the use, materials for commercial fit-outs must be the most durable versions possible. For seating areas that are often frequented by visitors, the furniture must be highly resistant to abrasion, to prevent wear. skai^® Toronto EN meets the highest requirements with 300,000 Martindale tours.

Furniture designers and manufacturers

Furniture manufacturers, furniture designers, interior designers and decorators are inspired by the attractive designs, strong structures and on-trend colors of our artificial leather for their own productions. Using our faux leather for furniture, they always create emotionally touching living worlds with irresistible appeal, whether our materials are used on the couch, on the armchair or on the wall. Our products are ubiquitous: at home, in the car, at work, on holiday and during leisure time. In any situation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They enrich and beautify our lives. They make sure that we are comfortable and feel good around the clock.

What Is Artificial Leather?

Artificial leather is a high-quality synthetic material that replicates the look and feel of genuine leather. It consists of a textile backing coated with PVC or PU, combining functionality with design. Thanks to its uniform surface, high durability, and easy maintenance, artificial leather is ideal for applications in furniture manufacturing, contract design, and medical environments. Artificial leather is often referred to as leather imitation and, when specific raw materials are selected, can represent a vegan alternative to genuine leather.

How Can You Recognize Artificial Leather?

Artificial leather is characterized by its uniform structure and a textile backing. It has no typical leather scent and shows no natural grain patterns or pores. This homogeneous appearance ensures consistent aesthetics—an advantage in the series production of furniture and contract furnishings.

What Types of Artificial Leather Are There?

All synthetic leathers have one thing in common: they are industrially produced as continuous yardage and are designed to resemble genuine leather. One or more layers of PVC or polyurethane are applied to a textile or synthetic backing. To achieve a realistic appearance and feel, the surface is embossed with textures or grain patterns. A finishing layer protects the material from mechanical stress and environmental influences. Depending on the intended use, artificial leather is available in thin, medium, or thick variants. All high-quality artificial leathers share the ability to be precisely tailored to the processor’s needs, minimizing costly waste typically associated with genuine leather.

Where Is Artificial Leather Used?

Artificial leather is widely used in contract furnishing and the furniture industry—from seating furniture, wall panels, and headboards in hotels, restaurants, and stadiums to caravan, yacht, and boat interiors. For healthcare environments, special artificial leathers are available that are resistant to disinfectants as well as blood and urine. In contract applications, artificial leather with high abrasion resistance and flame-retardant properties is preferred. In outdoor settings, artificial leather stands out for its resistance to UV radiation, saltwater, and chlorine. Some variants also heat up less under direct sunlight compared to conventional surface materials. Artificial leather is ideal for durable, low-maintenance projects in interior design and industrial production.

How Is skai® Artificial Leather Manufactured?

In a coating process, a closed top layer is first created, which determines the surface properties and coloration. In the second step, a foam layer is applied to control softness and tactile feel. This layered structure is firmly bonded to a textile backing material, forming the base artificial leather. Further processing steps involve surface finishing, which adds additional technical properties and design features. Designs are applied through coating, printing, and embossing—cowhide, ostrich, or fantasy embossings are all possible and part of the standard skai® portfolio.

How Do You Clean and Care for Artificial Leather?

To maintain the material properties of your skai® product, regular surface cleaning is required. Use warm, mild soapy water and a microfiber cloth. For heavier soiling, a soft hand brush may be used. Stains caused by oils, fats, strongly pigmented foods, or other substances must be removed immediately. In cases of heavy contamination, the cleaning process may need to be repeated. When using commercially available surfactant-based cleaners, always follow the manufacturer’s dosage instructions. Regular cleaning is sufficient to maintain the service life of your skai® product. Additional treatments, such as leather care products, are not necessary. Do not use chemical bleaches or abrasive cleaning agents. Please note that color transfer from jeans or other textiles is excluded from any warranty.

How Durable Is Artificial Leather?

High-quality artificial leather is extremely durable and retains its shape and color even after many years of intensive use. It is abrasion-resistant, colorfast, and insensitive to UV radiation. With regular care, artificial leather performs reliably in professional applications—both indoors and under demanding conditions.

Is Artificial Leather the Same as Vegan Leather?

Vegan leather is an umbrella term for leather-free materials. In addition to plant-based materials such as cactus, apple, or mushroom leather, polymer-based artificial leather can also fall into this category. Through careful selection of ingredients, PVC- or PU-based artificial leather can be considered vegan. Many of our skai® products are certified with the PETA-Approved Vegan label.

Is Genuine Leather Better Than Artificial Leather?

Whether genuine leather or artificial leather is better depends on the intended application. Artificial leather stands out for its ease of care, consistent quality, and price stability. Genuine leather, on the other hand, offers natural tactility and patina. Both materials have distinct advantages depending on design and functional requirements. Thanks to continuous material optimization, modern artificial leather can no longer be described merely as a leather substitute. Rather, it is a highly engineered surface material that in many cases is difficult to distinguish from genuine leather in terms of look and feel. At the same time, it offers outstanding technical performance, durability, design versatility, and specialized features such as high flame resistance or suitability for outdoor use.

What Is the Difference Between Artificial Leather and Leather Imitation?

Artificial leather and leather imitation are two terms for the same material. Both describe synthetic surfaces that imitate the structure and appearance of genuine leather. In professional contexts, the term “artificial leather” is commonly used.

What Are the Advantages of Artificial Leather?

Artificial leather offers numerous advantages—especially for furniture manufacturers, architects, and interior designers who value quality, design versatility, and durability. Key benefits include:

• Vegan and innovative: Many artificial leathers contain no animal-derived components and meet the requirements for vegan materials.
  The use of ingredients based on renewable natural resources combined with recycled textiles can significantly reduce the carbon footprint.
• Consistent quality: Every roll has exactly the same properties—a major advantage for industrial processing and series production.
• Extensive design variety: Artificial leather can be produced in colors and grain patterns not found in nature, such as copper, ochre, slate gray, mustard yellow, or moss green.
• Realistic appearance and feel: High-quality surfaces are now virtually indistinguishable from genuine leather.
• Easy-care and durable: Artificial leather is hard-wearing, easy to clean, and remains dimensionally stable even with intensive use.
• Cost-efficient and easy to process: Thanks to consistent quality and excellent processability, artificial leather is highly economical for professional applications.

As a result, skai® artificial leather is a compelling choice for anyone seeking durable, design-driven, and sustainable surface solutions.

How Is skai® Artificial Leather Manufactured? (Production Overview)

In the production process, an elastic PU or PVC top layer is applied to a synthetic fiber backing on large-scale machines, followed by the application of a foam layer. Next comes surface embossing of the leather imitation—cowhide, ostrich, or fantasy embossings are all possible and part of the standard skai® range. Finally, a transparent protective layer shields the surface from dirt, abrasion, and UV radiation.

Cleaning and Care of Artificial Leather

Artificial leather is an extremely easy-care upholstery material. In most cases, it is sufficient to wipe the surface with warm, mild soapy water and a microfiber cloth, then dry it. For heavier soiling, a soft hand brush can be used. Unlike open-pored genuine leather, leather imitation does not absorb juice or even red wine stains if they are wiped off immediately. In areas where artificial leather upholstery is exposed to heavy use—such as in hospitality settings—the innovative staynu coating provides outstanding resistance to soiling. Even permanent marker stains can be removed effortlessly.

How can I buy skai^® faux leather?

skai® artificial leather can be ordered directly from us for orders above a certain quantity. You can also order artificial leather samples online beforehand, with no commitment. Our sales staff will be happy to advise you. Just call or email us!

Order your faux leather samples free of charge now!

Do you want to see and feel these high-quality materials for yourself? Simply add the samples you need to your shopping cart on the corresponding product page and send your order to us right away.

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