What is Bonded Leather - A Must-read Materials Guide for Leather Bag Buyers

In the leather products market, cost control and material selection are always the core of purchasing decisions. bonded leather has become the preferred material for many buyers of leather bags, office supplies, promotional products, etc., due to its price advantage and appearance similar to genuine leather. This article will combine 23 years of experience in leather bag manufacturing to systematically analyze the composition, advantages, and applicable products of bonded leather to help you make more accurate material selections.

What is Bonded Leather?

Bonded leather is called "leather" because it contains animal leather scraps, which account for 10-20% of its total composition. bonded leather has a layered structure, made of a fiber or paper backing covered with a layer of crushed leather fibers mixed with natural rubber or polyurethane adhesive and embossed with a leather-like texture. Its surface texture can simulate a variety of natural leather styles, such as cowhide and crocodile leather.

Structurally, a typical piece of bonded leather consists of

Base layer: a laminated substrate of leather fibers and resin

Middle layer: a reinforcement layer (glue/PU slurry)

Surface layer: PU or PVC film + printing/embossing

Advantages of Bonded Leather

Cost Control: Compared with full-grain leather or top-grain cowhide, the cost of bonded leather can be 30-70% lower, which is particularly suitable for projects with relatively strict budget requirements, such as gift bags and promotional bags.

Sustainable Use: Use leather scraps, dandruff, and other waste materials for reprocessing, effectively reducing the waste of raw materials and solid waste emissions. bonded leather does not require the use of a whole animal skin, which indirectly reduces the demand for animal leather. It is conducive to creating a low-carbon circular supply chain and enhancing the brand's environmental protection image.

Appearance Consistency: The surface of bonded leather is uniformly PU/PVC coated and embossed, with highly consistent color and texture, suitable for large-volume orders, without worrying about the color difference and defects of natural leather.

Diverse Appearance and Texture Selection: A variety of textures (such as cowhide, lychee, and crocodile), colors, and gloss can be customized to meet the needs of different market styles.

Processing Flexibility: Applicable to conventional leather bag production processes, embossing, sewing, hot pressing, cutting, etc. Good flexibility, easy to shape, high production efficiency, and can reduce processing losses.

Waterproof and Anti-fouling Performance: The surface coating has certain water-repellent and easy-to-clean properties and is suitable for practical products such as document bags and office supplies.

Disadvantages of Bonded Leather

Poor durability: The main components of bonded leather are crushed leather and adhesive, and its structural strength is not as good as genuine leather. It is prone to peeling, cracking, and delamination under frequent folding, stretching, and friction, especially in a hot and humid environment.

Poor breathability: Although PU/PVC coating is waterproof, it also hinders air circulation and is suitable for short-term use or non-close-fitting products.

Not suitable for the high-end market: Although bonded leather has a simulated appearance, it lacks the natural texture, oily feel, and unique texture of genuine leather and is less recognized in the high-end leather market.

Applicable Leather Products

Due to its cost control advantages, processing flexibility, and appearance consistency, bonded leather is widely used in some leather products that have a demand for appearance but low requirements for durability and breathability. The following are common leather categories for bonded leather:

Business Office Leather Goods/Conference Gifts: folders, notebook covers, business card holders, office storage boxes, etc.

Promotional Handbags/Clutches: cosmetic bags, small handbags, shopping bags, brand gift bags

Travel Accessories: passport holders, document bags, luggage tags, headphone storage bags

Leather Packaging: high-end gift box leather, wine boxes, perfume boxes, watch boxes, jewelry boxes

Summary and Suggestions:

If your project is budget-sensitive and has requirements for appearance but high tolerance for durability, bonded leather is a very cost-effective material option, but in high-end, heavy-load, and long-life scenarios, it should be used with caution or paired with more durable materials.

About Ackmie:

We are a leather bag manufacturer focusing on the design, production, and export of leather bags, covering a variety of materials such as top-grain cowhide, PU leather, vegan leather, and bonded leather, serving customers in 30+ countries. Welcome to consult OEM/ODM cooperation.

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