PU Leather

[juliepooch]

I encounter PU leather periodically when I am searching for leather items (handbags, totes, etc.) online. Does anyone know what it is?

[drcollie]

PU = Pull Up ?

[kazhuveri]

Bicast leather (also known as bycast leather, split leather or PU. leather) is a split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bycast was originally made for the shoe industry for glossy shoes, and recently was adopted by the furniture industry. The resulting product has an artificially consistent texture that is easier to clean and maintain.
The use of the term "leather" in relation to this bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Furniture made with bicast exhibits none of the characteristics associated with genuine leather; it will not develop a patina or suppleness nor otherwise "improve with age". With constant use the polyurethane layer will crack and split free of its backing.
Modern technology permits up to three or four horizontal layers being taken from a single hide. The leather used in the backing of bicast is a thin, otherwise worthless layer, remaining after better quality layers have been removed for traditional leather work and contributes nothing to the look and feel of the end product.
Furniture manufacturers say that the main benefit of bicast leather is its price. Lower grades of leather can be used during the manufacturing process, and treating with polyurethane gives a uniform shine and a long-lasting "like new" appearance. Bicast leather looks best, they say, on furniture with taut seat cushions and pillows. It can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth. New bicast leather furniture can have a slight chemical smell, but this typically dissipates about a week after the piece is exposed to air.

[kazhuveri]

From Wikipedia

[drcollie]

There is a little more to bycast as well. Its made of scrap leather, which is chemically melted and then bonded to that poly sheet. When you do the melting it destroys the cellulose bonds that real leather has and !poof! there goes all the strength of real leather. IMHO, Bycast is a terrible product and should be avoided on furniture. Vinyl is a superior product.