Alcantara is a material that belongs to the group of artificial textile materials. It combines the best qualities of natural materials. It looks like suede, but has a much higher density and is also more resistant to abrasion, moisture, temperature changes, etc. These properties make it more practical to use compared to genuine leather. Alcantara is a completely environmentally friendly material with anti-allergenic properties.
Alcantara is a soft and velvety artificial finishing material that is often confused with genuine leather. However, it would be more correct to call this material artificial suede, since they are very similar in appearance and feel. The fabric is officially patented by the Italian company of the same name Alcantara, which continues to manufacture it to this day. An aesthetic and practical material consisting of polyester and polyurethane, it is especially popular in the field of car finishing.
History of the origin of the material
The history of Alcantara began not so long ago - in the 1970s of the last century it was invented by the Japanese scientist Miyoshi Okamoto at Toray. Almost immediately, this new material was rated very highly by representatives of the automotive industry. Already in 1972, a united Japanese-Italian company appeared, which began active production and sale of Alcantara. The Japanese side was responsible for providing the technology, while the Italian side was responsible for the manufacturing processes and advertising. The word “Alcantara” itself refers to Spanish and South American regions with a developed leather industry.
A synthetic analogue of natural suede is made from polyester and polyurethane. The main nuance of production lies in the fineness of the produced fiber (microfiber) thanks to improved spinning of threads (wet viscous weaving), as well as modern processes of dressing, dyeing, impregnation and processing. An important element of the latter is the piercing of the two-component fiber, and after that additional treatment with glue. The structure of the resulting material, similar to suede, is durable, wear-resistant, and is also not exposed to sunlight. The very small size of Alcantara microfibers allows this material to be classified as ultramicrofibers.
Description and characteristics
According to the description, the material is similar to suede, they are often confused. Alcantara fabric is artificial suede. It was created in Japan in the 70s of the last century. Now alcantara fabric belongs to Alcantara SpA. This is an Italian company that produces only this material. It is also produced in other countries - Türkiye, China. But after Italian, Korean is better than the rest. Korea loves this suede and uses it often.
The fabric consists of 80% polyester and 20% polyurethane. Indicators may vary: 65% polyester, 35% polyurethane. Non-woven polyester is obtained by processing microfiber. Non-fiber polyurethane is used.
Alcantara properties:
- has a shorter pile than faux suede;
- more elastic than genuine leather;
- shape-resistant, wear-resistant;
- allows air to pass through and does not retain odors;
- pleasant to the touch, silky and soft;
- safe, environmentally friendly;
- not allergic, not harmful to health;
- does not fade under ultraviolet radiation, retains bright color;
- resistance to many chemicals.
Advantages of this matter:
- ease of care;
- self-healing of villi under mechanical influence;
- resistance to snow, wind, sun, rain, fog;
- easy to repair;
- easy to process when cutting and sewing;
- fire resistance.
The presence of certificates confirms the quality of the fabric. This is the best substitute for genuine leather.
Important!
Alcantara leather is artificial suede. Some believe that it is made from genuine llama leather. However, it is completely artificial fabric.
Characteristics of Alcantara
Like suede, Alcantara is quite pleasant to the touch, its surface is silky, soft and velvety. This fabric not only has excellent tactility, but will also last you a very long time due to the following important features:
- Wear resistance. Even after a year of use, its non-woven base does not wear out and generally looks flawless, of course, if you know how to properly care for the material.
- It is more elastic than natural leather, so it is more convenient for finishing objects of complex shapes. Especially if you take into account the fact that the fiber thickness is only one millimeter, thanks to which it has excellent air permeability. At the same time, Alcantara does not lose its shape, does not stretch, and fits quite tightly.
- You can wash it in a washing machine or use detergents that are suitable for cleaning leather furniture. Sometimes it is enough to simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
- It is easy to paint it in a variety of shades or perform other manipulations on it, for example, to achieve a new texture.
- Hypoallergenic. Safe for use by allergy sufferers.
- Not afraid of sunlight. Under the influence of the sun it does not lose its original color and pattern, and does not deform.
- Does not retain odors. Not affected by chemicals.
- Resistance to external influences, high resistance to mechanical and weather influences. Even after aggressive physical pressure or a sharp temperature change, the pile of the material is able to recover on its own. If a fire occurs, a product with Alcantara upholstery will be damaged, but the fabric itself does not support combustion. A spark falling on the material will not be able to ignite, so Alcantara will never become a source of fire.
Application
Alcantara has a wide range of applications. It is used for upholstery of car interiors and furniture upholstery.
Auto
Alcantara fabric for cars is durable and beautiful in appearance. Self-adhesive material is often used in car tuning. If you drag car parts with fabric, you can transform any vehicle. Alcantara car seat covers are comfortable, durable and easy to clean.
Microfiber can be used to cover the entire car or its individual elements. Perforated material is most often used for seat covers. It is easy to use, allows air to pass through and does not cause a greenhouse effect. If the material has a foam lining, it will be more soft.
Reupholstering panels or steering wheels is simple. The easiest way is to stick a self-adhesive film. The Alcantara-trimmed ceiling brings a fresh touch to the interior. However, in this case you should not use dark or bright shades. Finishing the ceiling is considered a difficult task. It is better to entrust it to a specialist.
Using luxury Alcantara means that all other elements will match it.
Furniture
Alcantara is considered an elite material that is used to decorate luxury interior items. It is used for upholstery of sofas, armchairs, and pillows. If you choose an Alcantara sofa, reviews indicate that its surface will be easy to clean.
The fabric is resistant to mechanical factors. Therefore, it can be used for finishing upholstered kitchen furniture. It will easily withstand many dry and wet cleanings. If a spark hits the canvas, it will not light up.
Other
In addition to furniture and seat covers, Alcantara is used to make sports equipment. Musical instruments, toys, clothes and shoes, and jewelry are also made from fabric. It is used to decorate helicopters and airplanes.
How to distinguish original Alcantara from a fake?
The high cost of original Alcantara is explained by high-quality raw materials, modern technologies and the involvement of professionals in working on the products. Those who want to save money on purchasing this fabric forget about these important factors. Counterfeits of Alcantara are cheaper, but they do not have the key features listed. Manufacturers of illegal counterfeits save on everything for the sake of their own benefit, trying to pass off wishful thinking. At the end of the day, they get a product that looks similar to the original Alcantara, but which definitely will not stand the test of time. If you want to be sure that your trim or cladding will last for many years and maintain a presentable appearance, choose the original. Order fabric from the company's official suppliers who cooperate with the Italian company.
Area of application of Alcantara
A large number of well-known brands of expensive premium and business class cars, which use innovative material for seat upholstery, cooperate with the Italian company that produces Alcantara. The appearance and tactile sensations allow us to compare this material with natural suede, but the performance properties of Alcantara are in many ways valued much more highly.
The use of this technological material is not limited only to the automotive sector and car covers. In 2015, the American company Space X demonstrated the design of the interior of a transport spacecraft. To decorate the astronauts' seats, the developers chose reliable and high-quality Alcantara.
In addition, it can be used to cover furniture. Non-woven fabric is used for upholstery and other interior items, making helmets, and jewelry. You can often find clothes or shoes made of Alcantara. Practicality and durability in operation make it possible to use it in the development of spectacular and practical designs for restaurants, yachts, casinos, airplanes and helicopters. The list of possible areas is constantly expanding, for example, some companies are already using Alcantara to create a cushion (an element for sealing holes) of a woodwind instrument.
Alcantara fabric types and applications
The canvas is mainly used to decorate the interiors of premium and middle-class cars. Alcantara can be seen in car interiors of such brands as BMW, AUDI, PORSCHE, LAMBORGINI, VOLKSWAGEN, LEXUS, HONDA, SKODA and others.
The material is manufactured in several types:
- Basic fabric from an Italian company. It is mainly used as Alcantara for cars. It covers dashboards, doors, ceilings, steering wheels, etc.
- It has a textile backing that does not allow the fabric to stretch. Alcantara is used as furniture fabric. Most often it is used to cover sofas and car seats.
- Fret. Perforated fabric with a glued reinforcing layer. Suitable for upholstery of seats with airflow function.
- Starlite. Material with round perforations, with glued silver fabric that does not support airflow on the seats.
- Fabric with textile backing. Used for upholstery of chairs and sofas.
- Soft. Has a soft foam base. As a rule, it is used to cover the racks and ceiling of the car.
In general, there are no restrictions for Alcantara material; it is used:
- when finishing the interiors of cars, yachts, airplanes;
- for sewing clothes, shoes;
- in the jewelry industry (cases for products and display cases), covering helmets, weapon handles);
- in the production of furniture;
- for finishing the interiors of bars, boutiques, restaurants, club rooms, apartments and lofts.
Cushions for wind instruments are sewn from Alcantara suede leather and the ear pads of luxury headphones are trimmed.
Alcantara or genuine leather, which is better to choose?
Since Alcantara surprisingly resembles suede or velor, many people have a logical question: which fabric to choose? First, of course, it is worth considering that each material performs its own tasks. During the experiments, it turned out that Alcantara is much more resistant to physical influences than genuine leather. This feature makes it an ideal finishing material, since wear resistance is a key characteristic for such tasks.
In addition to its durability, Alcantara is distinguished from genuine leather by the following features:
- Not afraid of sudden temperature changes and exposure to chemicals;
- Does not fade in the sun, holds color well, and is durable. Genuine leather does not like the scorching rays of the sun and immediately becomes very hot;
- Easy to clean, remove even stubborn stains. Caring for Alcantara is much simpler, does not require much time and effort, and does not need to be treated with special substances, like suede;
- Thanks to its elasticity, it is convenient to use for finishing complex objects.
Often clients opt for a compromise - a combination of genuine leather and Alcantara. This combination is considered practical and harmonious. Moreover, not every leather material may be suitable for certain purposes.
If you are a supporter of a conscious approach to consumption, and genuine leather is not an acceptable option for you. Feel free to buy Alcantara! This is an environmentally friendly, high-quality material, the creation of which does not harm animals, and it is superior to leather in many respects. The raw materials for Alcantara are cotton and polymers.
Which eco leather to choose for a car
There are several types of leather that can be used to make covers. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Leatherette is a fabric on top of which a nitrocellulose coating is applied. It is cheap and has low resistance to abrasion, so the material is considered short-lived.
- PVC leather, or vinyl leather, is a fabric over which polyvinyl chloride is applied. This material is characterized by sufficient strength and elasticity, however, during its production, chemical additives are added to the coating composition, the vapors of which can be harmful to humans. These vapors have a specific smell; almost everyone could smell them while sitting in the cabin of a cheap Chinese car.
- MF leather, or microfiber. This material is used for reupholstering car interiors. It is distinguished by the presence of pores through which the material “breathes” and its rather high cost.
You might be interested in what you can sew from striped fabric
Note! If the question arises, which eco-leather is best for a car, you need to start from the safety of the material and its durability.
Alcantara or eco-leather, which is better to choose?
There is no definite answer to this question, since the essence of these materials is very similar. They have many similar characteristics, one of which is good air exchange. Both fabrics do not require any special care. However, one of the disadvantages of Alcantara compared to eco-leather is the high price per meter. At the same time, the disadvantage of eco-leather is its poor adaptability to high temperatures: in hot summers, unlike Alcantara, it gets very hot, and in winter its surface becomes cool. Thermoregulation of Alcantara is much better.
Features of caring for Alcantara
Caring for Alcantara is very simple; cleaning it is not difficult at all, even without turning to professional dry cleaners. It is enough to follow a few basic tips and recommendations from the manufacturer:
It is better to clean once a week, but the frequency of cleansing is, of course, up to you. Many people do this only when necessary. First, walk over the surface with a dry brush to remove dust, and then wipe everything with a damp cloth. It is more convenient to use a vacuum cleaner in the car and then wash everything with a wet cloth. When the upholstery is dry, you can comb the pile with a special soft brush.
Several times a year, a high-quality, complete wash is required, especially after the winter or summer periods. From time to time, car covers are washed in a washing machine on a delicate cycle, or by hand in cold water.
If stubborn stains bother you, use special cleaning products for faux suede. A proven solution is also a soap or alcohol solution. Do not use universal detergents, which can be absorbed and cause allergies. However, if the stain is greasy, it can be removed dry simply with talc.
Restoring the color of Alcantara will also not be difficult. First, purchase any product that is designed for artificial suede. You should not use aerosol paint to apply the color more evenly; it is better to paint with a sponge.
Types of material
Branded Italian Alcantara is presented in three popular types among drivers:
- Panel. No backing. This option is suitable for automotive panels, such as dashboards.
- Cover. A textile backing is added to the non-woven fabric. An excellent solution for seat upholstery.
- Perforated. Thanks to perforations, it provides even better air exchange than regular Alcantara.
- formal. With textile lining, intended for seats.
- Soft. With foam rubber.
There are other, not quite “automotive” variations of the canvas, for example:
Flock Alcantara. Fabric reminiscent of velvet both tactilely and externally. An interesting feature is its interaction with moisture: it can absorb, but cannot get wet “through and through” and begin to leak, and will not let water inside. To dry the canvas, you can simply blot it with a dry cloth. Suitable for finishing mattresses or sewing mattress covers.
