How to Buy Faux Leather

Faux leather is a synthetic polyurethane fabric. Unlike real leather, fake leather fabrics are easy to clean, very durable and they do not crack. Faux leather is commonly used for upholstery, bags, jackets and other accessories that get a lot of use. If you are interested in using faux leather to make something or buying a faux leather product, then it is a good idea to choose a fabric made especially for the purpose, such as thick upholstery fabric, thin jacket fabric or textured and colored accessory fabric. Find out how to buy faux leather.

1. Decide that faux leather is the best choice for your project. Although it is easy to maintain, faux leather is not breathable. Other drawbacks are that it can be more easily ripped or punctured and it often does not look like real leather.
   • If you are trying to find a faux leather product that looks and feels like real leather, you will need to do plenty of research and pay a bit more. While faux leather fabrics can look and feel like cow hide, they can also feel like plastic.
2. Decide what type of faux leather you would like. If you are choosing your leather based on a certain type of real leather, then try to decide the color scheme and pattern you would like. Go to Fabric.com to look for examples of names, colors and patterns.
   • Faux leather fabric is available in styles that mimic a number of animal hides. For example, fabric that mimics cow leather is not likely to say that in the title, because it is the standard for leather. However, ostrich, reptile, calf, bison, gator or pigskin usually include those titles in the name. Choosing an exotic animal fabric can add a couple of dollars to the price per yard.
   • Patterns, such as tooling, are common to faux leather fabric. Unlike regular leather that is often hand-tooled, faux leather can look ornate. Choose floral designs, paisley designs, cowboy motifs, symbol designs or a woven look as alternative textures. Ornate and colorful designs can cost twice as much as simple brown faux leather.
   • Faux leather also comes in a few different finishes. You can choose shiny, pearl or metallic finishes in addition to your color and pattern. Microsuede is a type of faux leather that is prized for its finish. It is more expensive than faux leather because of its soft pile.
3. Go to a fabric store to find faux leather for a quick project. A craft or fabric store will have 5 to 20 choices of faux leather. You will not get a large choice, but you will be able to walk out of the store with yards of fabric.
4. Visit an upholstery or furniture store to select faux leather for upholstery. Many furniture stores will allow you to pick your fabric, including faux leather, for custom made furniture. If you want to do your own upholstery, then some fabric stores have an upholstery section with a very small selection.
5. Go online to an upholstery fabric outlet to buy large quantities of upholstery fabric. Sites like DIY Upholstery Supply have a large selection of different colors, patterns and finishes. Upholstery fabric is often thicker than normal sewing fabric, so it may cost up to double the price.
6. Search online for a fabric store for the largest selection of faux leather fabric. Sites like Fabric.com, Fabric Direct or Wholesale Fabric Discount Store will offer good price and choice.
7. Shop at an eco-friendly fabric outlet. If you are looking for special faux leather with a low carbon footprint, look at Bretano Fabrics, Etsy or a "green" fabric website.
8. Shop at interior design outlets or conferences. If you are an interior decorator or designer, you may be afforded discounts from places that collect and offer various options for upholstery and home design. Attend an interior designers conference or going to InteriorMall.com or HouseFabric.com.