Alcantara

Alcantara is not a type of leather, but a trade name for a microfibre fabric originated in Japan and made from polyester and polystyrene. Microfibres are very fine fibres. 10000 metres of fibre weigh less than 1 gram. Currently Alcantara is produced mainly in Italy.

Alcantara has a very fine fabric structure that looks and feels similar to suede. Therefore, it is often mistaken for genuine leather.

In its country of origin, Alcantara is also known as "ECSAINE", and in the US as "Ultrasuede". It also appears frequently on the Internet with the spelling "Alkantara".

Alcantara looks like suede.

Alcantara is sometimes perforated, and fabric is visible through the holes.

Alcantara weighs only half as much as real leather. It can be washed with neutral detergent in the washing machine at 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. But do not spin! Let it dry on its own and brush it after. Alcantara can be ironed with low temperatures. But always put a white cloth between the iron and the Alcantara. Be very carefully with the temperature! Alcantara is very heat sensitive!

An advantage of Alcantara is that it can be cut in several layers one above the other. The structure of Alcantara is absolutely uniform, so unlike real leather, there is less wastage. Common uses of Alcantara are the clothing, furniture and car seats.

Some manufacturers of car seats upholster the centre sections of the seats in Alcantara and the outer surfaces (bolsters) with smooth leather. When combined with genuine leather, we refer to it as a partial leather interior. When combined this way, many think that all used materials are leather and refer to it as "Alcantara leather".

Alcantara combined with leather = Alcantara leather upholstery.

Less common: Mercedes steering wheel with Alcantara and leather. - Audi with Alcantara steering wheel.

Pilling in Alcantara

It is common, with time, to find nodules on the surface of wear areas of Alcantara upholstery. This phenomenon is called pilling. The friction on the surface causes the fibres to raise into knots or nodules. This issue is widely known in the clothing sector.

The typical nodules on Alcantara. In this case, easily removable (see video).

Alcantara - cleaning - pilling removal - care

Treated to hot with steam cleaner. Result: Permanent entanglement and deformation without chances of removal.

Fading of Alcantara

Alcantara colour bleaches very rarely. A re-colouring is not possible. Since it is synthetic, dyes don’t remain on the fibres and easily rub off and lead to discolouration.

Faded Alcantara is rare.

Other fabrics with a leather-look

Besides Alcantara there are many other types of material that look like suede or nubuck. Therefore, always check the label to find out what material it is. The most common imitation of leather is smooth grain-structured imitation leather.