Whether you prefer real leather or vegan, one thing matters: knowing what you’re actually buying. Here are the simple checks that help you tell genuine leather from faux (vegan/PU) leather.
1. Look at the surface grain
Genuine leather has a natural, slightly irregular grain — no two areas look identical. Faux leather often shows a repeating, uniform pattern because it’s printed or embossed onto a backing.
2. Feel the texture
Real leather feels soft, warm and slightly uneven, and it creases naturally when you fold it. Vegan leather tends to feel smoother and more consistent, and can feel a little more ‘plastic’ when bent.
3. Check the edges
Cut edges of genuine leather look fibrous and slightly rough. Faux leather edges usually look cleaner and reveal a fabric or synthetic backing underneath.
4. The smell test
Genuine leather has a distinctive, rich natural scent. Faux leather has little smell, or a faint chemical/synthetic one.
5. Warmth & reaction
Real leather warms to your touch and absorbs a drop of water slowly; faux leather stays cooler and water beads on the surface.
The most reliable test of all: the label
Tests help, but the surest way to know is a seller who tells you plainly. At RANI we label every bag’s material clearly — genuine leather, vegan (PU) leather, or faux suede — so you never have to guess. Browse our Genuine Leather and vegan Leather-look ranges, or see all bags.