Leather-look materials
Imitation, PU, vegan, embossed, and grain terms, read as labels.
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The word leather
The FTC Leather Guides say it is "unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified term 'leather' or other unqualified terms suggestive of leather to describe industry products unless the industry product so described is composed in all substantial parts of leather." Material words on a shoe are the maker's label, not ours. We never say any shoe is leather.
Guides
Imitation and faux leather: the disclosure rule
If it appears to be leather.
PU leather: reading the label
A maker's term, read closely.
Vegan leather: a maker's term, and two FTC Guides
A maker's term, two Guides.
Patent and embossed finishes on pumps
Processed to look different.
Full grain, suede, and nubuck: maker's terms
Terms the Guides leave out.
Start with imitation leather
If it appears to be leather.
