The Plastic Delamination: Why 'Leather' Peels and Real Hides Don't
The 'Snake Skin' Fallacy
One of the most frequent questions we receive is: "My leather jacket is peeling—how do I fix it?" The answer is often heartbreaking: If it is peeling, it isn't real leather. At IndiFash, we exclusively use Full-Grain hides because they are physically incapable of peeling. To understand why, you have to look at the chemistry of "Plastic Leather" (PU) versus "Cattle Hide."
1. The Anatomy of a Peeling Jacket (PU/Faux)
Faux leather consists of a fabric backing (usually polyester) with a layer of Polyurethane (plastic) sprayed on top.
- The Failure Mode: Over time, the plasticizers in the PU layer evaporate. The plastic becomes brittle and loses its bond with the fabric. When you move, the plastic layer cracks and flakes off in small, thin pieces. This is called Delamination.
- The Fix: There is no fix. You can paint over it, but the plastic will continue to fail underneath the paint. It is a fundamental material failure.
2. The Anatomy of an IndiFash Jacket (Full-Grain)
Real leather is a unified, three-dimensional structure of collagen fibers. It is not "layered."
- The Wear Pattern: If you scratch real leather, it scuffs. If it is dry, it cracks (as discussed in article cm-7). But it will NEVER "peel" because there is no separate plastic layer to detach. The color is usually tanned into the fibers themselves (Aniline), not just painted on the surface.
3. Bonded Leather: The 'Frankenstein' Material
This is the most deceptive "Leather" of all. It is made by grinding up leather scraps into a pulp, mixing them with glue, and spreading it onto a paper backing. It can legally be called "Genuine Leather," but it acts like wood pulp. It peels faster than cheap PU because the glue bonds are incredibly weak.
Material Failure Comparison
| Material | Failure Mode | Repairability |
|---|---|---|
| Faux (PU) | Peeling/Flaking | Zero |
| Bonded Leather | Splitting/Crumbly | Zero |
| IndiFash Full-Grain | Scuffing/Patina | High (Infinite) |
Conclusion: buy Right, Buy Once
A peeling jacket is a symptom of the "Fast Fashion" industry. At IndiFash, our goal is to eliminate this cycle of waste. By investing in a true hide, you are bypasssing the plastic delamination nightmare entirely. Real leather doesn't die; it simply evolves with you. If you are tired of your clothes "falling apart," it is time to upgrade to the biological integrity of Full-Grain.
Invest in forever. View our Full-Grain Collection.
