If you look at the product labels, you will often see another name that is incomprehensible to everyone instead of the usual suede. Alcantara leather - what kind of material is it, why does it look like suede? Many questions arise in the buyer's head. And everything is very simple, Alcantara fabric is a material that has been used as a finish for 50 years.
Advantages of the material
The popularity of the material on the market is only growing due to its undeniable advantages:
- wear resistance - does not change after a year of use, does not become shiny;
- softness, velvety;
- does not absorb odors;
- high water permeability;
- elasticity, which allows it to be used for upholstery of a wide variety of shapes;
- resistance to external influences, fires (if a spark hits the material, it will not catch fire);
- There are virtually no costs when cutting the product, which significantly reduces the price of the finished product;
- resistance to sunlight;
- easy to clean;
- can be repaired without visible consequences.
Plus, Alcantara has a rich palette of colors, which allows you to choose the finish to your liking. Thus, the collections even include images of fish scales, dry leaves, and cracked soil.
History of appearance and secrets of production
It is impossible to say exactly what Alcantara is without knowing its history. The fabric was developed by the Japanese chemical plant Torai in 1970. Its creator is scientist Miyoshi Okamoto. Already in 1972, together with Italian partners, the company launched sales of the material.
Alcantara is made from polyurethane and ether fibers. The secret to so many great benefits is the use of chemical and textile manufacturing processes combined with the use of viscous, wet spinning.
Description and characteristics
Alcantara - what is it: leather or artificial fabric? The answer to this question lies in the characteristics of the material.
Many people think that the fabric is made from llama wool. This is a misconception. But then what kind of Alcantara is there in terms of composition? In fact, there is only one composition. The fabric is 20% polyurethane and 80% polyester (recycled microfiber). This is a completely artificial fabric. Koreans are especially fond of it, so they often use it.
For your information! The microfibers of the material are so small that if you unravel 500 g of the fabric and weave a thread from its fibers, its length will be equal to the distance to the moon. According to this characteristic, it is classified as ultramicrofiber.
Alcantara is attached to fiber polyurethane.
Main properties of the material:
- shape-stable, wear-resistant;
- non-allergenic;
- allows air to pass through, does not retain moisture;
- the pile is shorter than that of natural suede;
- has increased resistance to chemical reagents;
- elastic;
- when subjected to mechanical action, the pile easily restores its original shape;
- soft, smooth and velvety to the touch;
- environmentally friendly;
- does not fade under ultraviolet light.
Please note! Due to all the properties and characteristics, it is believed that Alcantara fabric is an artificial substitute for natural suede. Externally, they are practically no different.
Application areas
The advantages of the material allow it to be used in various industries. It is used as a raw material in the creation of clothing and footwear. Most often, skirts, dresses, and suits are cut from it. But in life, it is quite difficult to find an image made of Alcantara, but on the catwalk it is easy, especially in the 2017 releases.
Alcantara has also found application in jewelry. Velvety, elegant bracelets (trend of 2015-2016) were often made from it.
For your information! Interestingly, leather substitute is even used in the production of pads for woodwind instruments.
In interiors, the material is used for covering yachts, helicopters, airplanes, as well as expensive hotels, restaurants and casinos.
The substitute was so popular with many well-known brands that Alcantara began to be used for cars. In this regard, it pleases many drivers with its comfort. The structure of the fibers creates maximum, tight adhesion of the driver to the seat, due to which he holds the steering wheel perfectly during turns, and does not move from the seat. In auto racing, the material is used to cover the steering wheels of racing cars.
The material is considered luxury in this area, so it is used in premium and business class cars. It is used by such famous brands as BMW, KIA, LADA.
Inexperienced people often ask what Alcantara is in a car and where it is used in this regard? It can be used for everything! The scope of use in a car depends on the type. In total, the automotive industry has chosen four types of material:
- Panel - there is no backing, it is used to cover the dashboard, pillars and ceiling;
- Soft — with foam padding for seat upholstery;
- Formal - textile backing for making covers;
- Cover - with textile backing for seat upholstery.
Alcantara can be used for upholstery as an independent element, but the favorite option is considered to be in combination with genuine leather.
If you need to urgently repair the interior of your car, then self-adhesive Alcantara is a great option. It is denser, the pile is shorter. It retains heat in winter and coolness in summer. The fabric is easy to work with: you just need to take precise measurements, cut out a piece with a margin and glue it. For better fixation, the margin should be placed under the trim.
Important! If you come across a low-quality adhesive base, you can buy a specialized aerosol with glue. It will glue the material permanently to the car interior.
Tips for choosing
It is not difficult to choose Alcantara. It is produced only in one factory in Italy. If the buyer is told about the real material produced in Turkey, then it is definitely a fake.
Another deception of sellers is the substitution of the name. There are many fakes that have similar names - "alcantra", "cantra", "cantarana".
For your information! Externally, non-original material is distinguished by the length of the pile. The real one is short, so if you run your hand over it, the dark spot will not be very visible. Manufacturers do this in order not to discourage customers from buying.
When choosing Alcantara, it is important not to get lost in the color scheme. The following winning shades are distinguished for cars, which will be easy to clean and look impressive in the interior:
- black - universal and practical in use. Black suede creates a stylish effect in the car. The advantages include the absence of problems with soiling, excellent combination with other colors;
- yellow and its original shades are suitable for racing cars. The color makes the car stand out from the "gray" mass, emphasizes its uniqueness. It is scientifically proven that yellow lifts the driver's mood;
- Brown - a noble and versatile option used by German manufacturers. Suitable for both exterior and exterior finishing;
- Beige adds chic to the interior. Still in demand among car enthusiasts. An important advantage of beige Alcantara is the ability not to fade in the sun, does not absorb dust.
Features and care
To ensure that Alcantara retains its original appearance for a long time, it is enough to follow three rules for its care:
- Dust accumulates on the fabric, so it is necessary to clean it with a vacuum cleaner, brush or dry cloth every 3-4 days. You can clean it every day if necessary.
- Every week after dry cleaning, wet cleaning is carried out. For this, use a clean cotton cloth, slightly moistened with water. It is passed over the entire surface of the material.
- Alcantara is washed 1-2 times a year if it can be removed from the item. Otherwise, cleaning is carried out on site using special products.
Please note! When removing a stain, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. If the stain is fresh (less than 30 minutes have passed), then treat it from the edges to the center with a damp cloth.
If the stain has already dried, it makes sense to contact a dry cleaner or use cleaning products.
Important! Do not apply cleaning agent directly to fabric.
Which material to choose: eco-leather or alcantara
On the Internet, car owners come across advertisements for products, which makes them involuntarily start thinking about upgrading the interior. The choice of material for this is not easy. What to choose: Alcantura or eco-leather?
Eco-leather is much cheaper, you don’t even need to wash it, just wipe it with a cloth, but with artificial suede substitute you’ll have to tinker a little, take it to the dry cleaner if the stain dries.
Both materials stretch well and are easy to work with.
However, eco-leather has characteristics that are inferior to Alcantara:
- It is not recommended to attach the material to the interior yourself; it is best to use the services of specialists;
- the quality of eco-leather depends very much on the manufacturer. If you choose a reliable option for a decent amount, then the product will last a long time. But if you save money, you can throw money down the drain;
- in winter, the material heats up much longer than any fabric upholstery;
- the eco-leather interior can get very hot in the summer if the windows are not tinted;
- There are counterfeits on the market that spoil after a year of use.
Please note! When choosing a material, the car owner should focus on the budget and needs. If you have the opportunity to spend money, then it is better to take a closer look at Alcantara, and if the goal is to save on material and maintenance, then eco-leather.
Where is Alcantara sold and how much does it cost?
The material can be purchased on the company's official website in Russia, as well as in some construction stores.
The price per 1 m is from 900 rubles.*
Reviews
On forums, car enthusiasts actively discuss the material and leave their reviews. Here are the assessments you can hear from people who have been using the fabric for more than a year.
Ruslan Kasayev, 24: "The Alcantara covers fit like a glove, and create a solid look for the interior. I've been using them for 2 years now, no complaints. They're easy to clean. I bought the covers for 8,000 rubles in a store. I installed them myself, but it was difficult to pull them on."
Sergey Konopeltsev, 46: “Alcantara looks like new after a little over a year. In hot weather, the back gets wet on any synthetic upholstery. Here, genuine leather is more practical. But Alcantara is easy to clean. I only took it to the dry cleaner once. One downside for me is that the fabric on the handles wears out quickly.”
Alcantara can make any interior elegant and expensive. The main thing is to consider your needs when choosing, and not to overdo it and insert the material where appropriate.
*Prices are valid as of May 2019.
