I. Appearance
Naturalness of texture
* The texture of high quality microfiber leather should be natural and delicate, mimicking the texture of real leather as much as possible. If the texture is too regular, hard or has obvious artificial traces, then the quality may be relatively poor. For example, some low quality microfiber leather textures look as if they are printed on, while high quality microfiber leather textures have a certain sense of layering and three-dimensionality.
* Observe the uniformity of the texture, the texture should be relatively consistent on the whole leather surface, without obvious splicing or fault phenomenon. You can lay it flat and observe it from different angles and distances to check the consistency of the texture.
Color uniformity
*The color should be even and consistent, without color difference. Different parts of the microfiber leather can be compared under sufficient natural light or standard light. If you find any local color shades, it may be caused by poor dyeing process or not strict quality control.
Meanwhile, quality microfiber leather has moderate color saturation and gloss, not too bright and harsh or dull. It should have a natural luster, as the effect of the luster of genuine leather after fine polishing.
2. hand feel
Softness
*Touch the microfiber leather with your hand, the high quality product should have good softness. It can bend naturally without any stiffness. If the microfiber leather feels hard and plastic-like, it may be because of the poor quality of the base material or the processing technology is not in place.
You can knead the microfiber leather into a ball and then loosen it to observe how it recovers. Good quality microfiber leather should be able to recover quickly to its original state with no visible creases remaining. If the recovery is slow or there are more creases, it means that its elasticity and toughness are not enough.
*Comfort to the touch
It should be comfortable to the touch, without any roughness. Gently slide your finger on the leather surface to feel its smoothness. The surface of a good quality microfiber leather should be flat and smooth, with no grain or burr. At the same time, it should not have a sticky feeling, and the finger should be relatively smooth when sliding on the surface.
3.Performance
Abrasion resistance
* Abrasion resistance can be initially judged by a simple friction test. Use a piece of dry white cloth to rub the surface of microfiber leather at a certain pressure and speed for a certain number of times (e.g. about 50 times), and then observe whether there is any wear and tear, discoloration or breakage on the surface of the leather. A good quality microfiber leather should be able to withstand such rubbing without noticeable problems.
You can also check the product description or ask the merchant about its abrasion resistance level. Generally speaking, good quality microfiber leather has a high abrasion resistance index.
*Water resistance
When a small amount of water is dropped on the surface of microfiber leather, a good quality microfiber leather should have good water resistance, the water droplets will not penetrate quickly, but will be able to form water droplets and roll off. If the water droplets are quickly absorbed or discolor the surface of the leather, the water resistance is poor.
A more rigorous water resistance test can also be carried out by immersing the microfiber leather in water for a period of time (e.g. a few hours) and then removing it to observe any deformation, hardening or damage. Good quality microfiber leather can still maintain its performance after being soaked in water.
*Breathability
Although microfiber leather is not as breathable as genuine leather, a good quality product should still have a certain degree of breathability. You can put the microfiber leather near your mouth and exhale gently to feel its breathability. If you can hardly feel the gas passing through, or there is an obvious stuffy feeling, it means the breathability is not good.
Breathability can also be judged by the comfort in actual use, such as the items made of microfiber leather (e.g., handbags, shoes, etc.) after wearing for a period of time, to observe whether there will be stuffy heat, sweat and other uncomfortable situations.
4.the quality of testing and labeling
*Environmental protection marking
Check whether there are relevant environmental protection certification marks, such as OEKO – TEX standard certification. These certifications show that the microfiber leather meets certain environmental requirements in the production process, does not contain harmful chemicals, and is harmless to the human body and the environment.
Be cautious about purchasing products that do not have an environmental label, especially if they are used to make items that come into direct contact with the skin (e.g. clothing, footwear, etc.).
*Quality Certification Marks
Some well-known quality certifications, such as ISO quality management system certification, can also be used as a reference for judging the quality of microfiber leather. Passing these certifications means that the production process has certain quality control standards and specifications.
Post time: May-14-2025
