What Is Suede?
Though suede is a popular and expensive clothing trend, many do not realize its origins. The technique used to produce this form of soft leather has grown increasingly popular and is now emerging into the synthetic textile market.
-
History
-
Suede is actually formed by sanding, or roughing up the tiny ends of the underside of leather, until a soft nap results. Because it was first used to make women's gloves, the name comes from the French term "gants de Suede," or "gloves of Sweden."
Features
-
The nap is the key to giving suede its characteristic soft feel. The fibers must be manipulated in order to pull them up from the leather.
Features
-
Any fabric that has a nap can also be referred to as being suede or having a suede-nap or suede-finish. The technical suede, though, is that which is made from leather.
Types
-
Suede is actually made from many different types of animal hide. The most frequently used leather is lamb. Other animal hides used include cow (calf), goat, deer and swine.
Warning
-
Suede is a very delicate material and does not have the durability that is characteristic of leather. It easily absorbs liquids and is difficult to clean. Always protect suede with stain guard and take it to the dry cleaner or to a leather-specific cleaner to be processed.
Potential
-
Because of the popularity and delicate nature of suede, many alternatives are now being created to replicate that soft nap feel. The most popular in textiles today is microsuede, which is more like a stretchy knit than it is leather.
-
