Faux suede

Description

A material produced with synthetic polymers that is designed to look and feel like Suede leather. Faux suede is most commonly made with polyester microfibers. These are flocked onto a support fabric typically made from Polyurethane, but not always. Faux suede is known as a soft, durable, washable fabric that is less expensive than leather. In general, it does not sag, stretch, pile or show scratch marks. applications include clothing (jackets, trousers, and skirts), accessories, bedding, curtains, furniture covers and automobile seats.

Synonyms and Related Terms

artificial suede; imitation suede; synthetic suede; microsuede (alternate name for polyester suede)

Brand names:

• Angelsuede (100% polyester) [Fishman's Fabrics];
• Sensuede (88% recycled polyester/12% polyurethane) [American Silk Mills];
• Ultrasuede (usually 80% polyester / 20% polyurethane) [Toray];
• Novasuede (nylon) [Majilite];
• Micro Suede (60% nylon / 40% polyurethane) [Shandong Kaitai Superfine Fiber];
• Sueded polyethylene (adhesive backing optional) [Benchmark, no longer available as of 2025]

Comparative Table

Fabric Type	Fiber/Polymer	Key Properties	Pros	Cons	Common Uses	Recorded tests Brand name: number (dates) See note below.
Polyester Suede (Microsuede)	Polyester Microfiber, sometimes on a polyurethane support	Soft, napped texture, good drape, durable, easy care, breathable, stain resistant	Good balance of properties, widely available, many colors and textures	Can pill, less luxurious feel than real suede, can be less breathable than natural fibers	Apparel, upholstery, accessories, crafts	* Fishman's Fabrics Angelsuede: 19 (2017-2019) * American Silk Mills Sensuede: 10 (2012-2013) * Toray Ultrasuede: 12 (2012-2019)
Polyethylene Sueded Material	Polyethylene	Soft, sueded texture, thin, flexible, good chemical resistance, less drape than fabrics	Good for linings and padding, resistant to moisture and many chemicals	Not as soft or luxurious as real suede, limited color and texture options	Linings, padding, protective coverings, archival applications	* Benchmark Sueded polyethylene: 26 (1999-2019)
Polyurethane Suede (PU Leather/Suede)	Polyurethane Coating on a base fabric (often polyester or cotton)	Can mimic suede texture, often water-resistant or waterproof, can be embossed, varying quality	Can be more affordable than real suede, some PU materials are vegan-friendly	Durability varies greatly by quality, can crack or peel over time, breathability can be an issue	Upholstery, apparel (especially jackets), automotive, bags	none
Nylon Faux Suede	Nylon microfibers on polyurethane support	Strong, durable, abrasion-resistant, can have a suede-like texture, less common than polyester	Durable, abrasion-resistant	Not as soft	Apparel, upholstery, automotive	* Majilite Novasuede: 3 (2012)

• Note: The AIC Materials Testing Results page provides information on Oddy tests that were completed on these materials. Access their database, then use the search box to locate materials of interest.

Resources and Citations

• Online Fabric Store: Suede Guide Accessed Feb 2025
• Wikipedia: Ultrasuede Accessed Feb 2025
• Toray: Ultrasuede Accessed Feb 2025
• Benchmark: Sueded Padding Renamed from Sueded polyethylene because the polyethylene suede was no longer available. The new sueded padding is still available with acrylic adhesive backing (Accessed Feb 2025)
• Majilite: Novasuede Accessed Feb 2025
• Fishman's Fabrics: Angelsuede Accessed Feb 2025
• American Silk Mills: Sensuede Accessed Feb 2025