Leatherette, a synthetic material commonly used in bookbinding and publishing, is an affordable substitute for genuine leather that has many of the same traits. As a result, it has become a popular option among bookbinders.
Leatherette is durable and malleable, making it simple to work with. It’s also simple to clean and maintain, making it ideal for books that will be handled frequently.
Leatherette looks like real leather but is composed of paper coated in plastic film rather than animal hide. It is often employed as a less expensive alternative to actual leather binding on mass-market paperbacks or hardcover texts.
A single color (such as brown or black) and a smooth, shiny surface are common characteristics of leatherette. While less long-lasting than the genuine article, this artificial material can give any book an extra touch of luxury.
In addition to adding visual appeal to your work, leatherette can help protect against wear and tear because it’s tougher than ordinary paper. Consequently, people who publish hardback literature may choose it since it provides their products with additional expense. Nonetheless, even paperback publications might have such covers if they belong to a sequence or set.
Artificial leather, also known by its generic name “leatherette,” has been available for over 100 years. Its popularity as a bookbinding fabric has waned and waxed over time.
As we’ve learned, leatherette is synthetic leather used frequently in publishing and bookbinding. Its significance lies in the fact that it’s a cost-effective alternative to pure leather while still offering many of the same features one associates with animal hides. Flexible and hard-wearing, it’s a straightforward material to work with and, hence, ideal for bookbinding. Additionally, it can be wiped clean without difficulty and requires little upkeep – qualities that make it perfect for high-handling-use books in libraries or schools.