What is the difference between Alcantara and suede?
3 Answers
Alcantara and suede are somewhat similar, but the former is a composite fiber that is easy to clean, while the latter is the reverse side of cowhide (hence also called "reverse leather"). Alcantara was invented in 1970 by Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto of Toray Industries, Inc. in Japan, and its composition is 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. It is not genuine leather, but it is relatively expensive. Here is some relevant information about Alcantara: 1. Alcantara has excellent hand feel, high friction coefficient, great softness, rich color, strong durability/wear resistance, and is extremely easy to maintain. 2. Alcantara uses a series of unique and advanced processing techniques, making it a high-end and innovative new material. This process has yet to be successfully replicated by anyone, so this material is exclusive to Alcantara. Since 2009, Alcantara® has been certified as a carbon-neutral material and has been identified as having active ingredients that can reduce and offset CO2 emissions. 3. Alcantara has excellent plasticity and can be made into steering wheels. The sides of the Huracan's steering wheel are wrapped in Alcantara material to improve hand feel and increase friction.
Alcantara is actually a pretty high-end synthetic material that feels somewhat like suede but is smoother and more refined. The steering wheel in my car is wrapped with it, and after three years, it still looks brand new. Suede, in essence, is the reverse side of genuine leather, such as the flesh side of cowhide that's been sanded, giving it a noticeable grain and making it prone to collecting dust. The biggest difference lies in their properties: Alcantara is highly durable—spills wipe right off, whereas suede stains easily when wet; in summer, Alcantara is more breathable than genuine leather but can't match natural suede; maintenance-wise, suede requires regular leather oil treatments, while Alcantara can be cleaned with foam cleaner. It depends on what you're after—if you want hassle-free, go for Alcantara; if you prefer natural texture, choose suede.
With over a decade of experience in auto repair, I've handled numerous interiors made of these two materials. Alcantara is actually a trademarked synthetic microfiber material composed of 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane, completely unrelated to genuine leather. Suede refers to the napped surface layer of animal leather, such as the reverse side of nappa leather. You can clearly feel the difference when touching them: Alcantara has a more uniform and consistent surface, while suede exhibits natural irregular textures. If you tug forcefully, suede stretches but recovers slowly, whereas Alcantara has stronger elasticity. The most challenging aspect during repairs is fixing suede wear - it tends to discolor after sanding. Alcantara damage is much easier to handle; you can simply cut a piece with matching texture and patch it.
