Nubuck and suede - what's the difference?

This article is devoted to the comparison of two materials: nubuck and suede - what is the difference between them and what is the scope. The fact is that many confuse these definitions. For example, they buy nubuck shoes in the full confidence that they are suede. In addition, both types of leather are used in furniture manufacturing and for the manufacture of haberdashery products. The information provided will be useful to demanding customers who want to understand the properties of the purchased goods.

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The visual difference between suede and nubuck

Both materials are very similar in appearance. Their surface is very pleasant to the touch, velvety. The difference in the height of the pile is higher for suede.

Natural suede is made from the skin of small cattle - goat, sheep or lamb. Sometimes they use the skin of larger animals - deer, cow or elk. Nubuck is coarser because it is made from cattle skin.

The method of processing raw materials also varies:

1. How to make suede: use tanning with vegetable and animal fats.
2. Nubuck: chrome tanning with polishing on the front side. For grinding use abrasive materials - mineral salts or sand. A special case is a nubuck-oil, in the processing of which oil compositions were used.

Important! There are artificial options. Suede substitute has a silk, cotton or synthetic base. Hairiness is achieved by splitting microfiber into fibers. Artificial nubuck is obtained by spraying the polymer in several layers.

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Consumer properties

The main area of ​​application of nubuck is the production of shoes and furniture. Suede has a wider area of ​​use - it makes excellent clothes and accessories.

Let's try to figure out which is more practical - nubuck or suede:

• Upholstered furniture in both cases looks very presentable. It is extremely soft and pleasant, creates an atmosphere of comfort. However, it cannot be called practical. Suede is more stretched, nubuck is more durable and dense, so in furniture production it is preferable.
• Suede items are waterproof (when it comes to genuine leather). Nubuck shoes get wet in the rain, quickly lose their attractive appearance. For this reason, special compositions are used to care for such products. However, frost resistance of nubuck is beyond competition - it remarkably retains heat.

Important! Oil impregnation is an attempt to improve the water-repellent effect, but externally nubuck oil is less attractive than the classic version.

• Suede tolerates cleaning or even washing in soapy water. However, in terms of mechanical strength, suede products are inferior to nubuck ones. In addition, they get dirty and greasy faster.
• Suede jackets, skirts, jackets are a great addition to your wardrobe. Leather with chrome tanning is preferable in the manufacture of shoes and furniture. At the same time, both materials are rather capricious, demanding in leaving.

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Stock footage

Now you understand the difference between nubuck and suede. In favor of what material to give preference - the choice is yours!