When you're choosing upholstery, the fabric-vs-leatherette question comes up almost immediately — and there's no single right answer. Both have real strengths depending on how the piece will be used, who's using it, and what kind of feel you're after. Here's how to actually decide.
What Makes Leatherette Different
Leatherette — also called faux leather or PU leather — is a synthetic material engineered to look and feel like genuine leather, without the cost or the animal-derived material. It's built from a fabric or polyester backing coated with polyurethane, giving it a smooth, wipeable surface that woven textile fabric simply doesn't have.
Where Leatherette Wins
- Easy to wipe clean — spills sit on the surface rather than soaking in, making it a practical choice for dining chairs, children's furniture, or high-turnover commercial seating
- Consistent finish — because it's manufactured rather than woven, leatherette has a uniform surface with no texture variation from batch to batch
- Resists spills and minor stains without needing a separate fabric protector treatment
Where Fabric Wins
- Breathability — woven fabric doesn't trap heat the way a coated surface can, which matters in Malaysia's climate for anything sat on for long periods
- Texture and depth — weaves, boucles, and textured finishes bring a tactile quality leatherette can't fully replicate
- Broader colour and pattern range — most of IDX's Design-by-Colour and Marschel collections are fabric, offering far more palette depth than leatherette typically does
What About Durability?
Both materials can be genuinely durable, but the numbers that matter are different. Fabric durability is measured by Martindale rub count — see our upholstery fabric buying guide for what that number actually means. Leatherette durability is usually judged differently: flex resistance and abrasion resistance of the coated surface itself, since it doesn't fray or pill the way woven fabric can, though it can crack or peel over time if the coating breaks down. Ask your supplier for actual test data either way, not just a marketing claim — IDX fabrics are independently tested and certified by SGS and TUV, and you can view our test reports here.
Which One Fits Your Project?
- Homes with young kids or pets — leatherette, for the easy wipe-down
- Hospitality and F&B seating with high turnover — leatherette, or a high rub-count fabric, depending on the look you want
- Living rooms and bedrooms — fabric, for the comfort and texture
- Outdoor or semi-outdoor spaces — neither of these directly; see our guide to outdoor fabric for Malaysia's climate for that specific case
You Don't Have to Choose Just One
Many projects mix both — leatherette on high-contact surfaces like armrests, fabric on the seat and back where comfort matters more. IDX supplies both from the same catalogue, so it's worth talking your project through with our team rather than assuming it has to be an either/or decision.
Still Deciding Between Leatherette and Fabric? Send us a few details about your project — what it's for, who'll use it, how it'll be cleaned — and we'll help you land on the right material and collection.
