Real leather vs vegan vs PU: what you're buying

The label terms decoded, and how each wears over time.

Short version: "Genuine leather" is real but low-grade; "full-grain" is the good stuff; "vegan/PU leather" is plastic that looks great new but cracks over years. Match the material to how long you want the bag.

The leather ladder

Full-grain — the top layer, strongest, ages beautifully (patina). Most expensive, lasts decades.
Top-grain — sanded smooth; good balance of price and durability.
"Genuine leather" — a misleading term for lower split layers; real, but wears faster.
Bonded leather — leather scraps glued together; avoid for anything you'll use often.

Vegan / PU

Polyurethane "leather" is plastic. It can look and feel convincing and is cheaper and animal-free — but most cracks and peels within a few years, especially at stress points. Newer plant-based leathers are better but pricey. Great for trend bags, less so for a forever bag.

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