Material swatch book · for brands and makers
Meet alternative leather, without the mix-ups
The names are confusing. In Indonesia “synthetic leather” usually means a coated plastic, not a plant material. We help you read the terms and claims before you pick a material.
Five materials that get mixed up
- 01
Animal leather
Tanned hide. The reference for strength and feel.
- 02
Synthetic leather
Usually PU or PVC on a fabric base. Not plant-derived.
- 03
Plant-based, coated
Plant fibre with a polymer coating. The coating decides what you can conclude.
- 04
Bacterial cellulose
Sheet grown by fermentation. Malai (India) says its material comes from coconut water. Properties depend on process and finish.
- 05
Kora coconut-derived material
One producer among several. Kora has published no test data.
Colours are illustrative, not photographs of the materials. The dashed card has no test data yet.
Open the toolbox
Let us be honest,
This site is published by PT Kora Prima Abadi (Bogor), and Kora is one of the producers discussed. Comparisons use what each maker publishes itself, with no ranking. Kora has published no test data or product status for its coconut-derived material; the Status page says so plainly.
Register sample interestSwatch, samples and claim check
All products-
Illustration Swatch card for the Kora coconut material
A card that shows the coconut-derived sheet material of Kora as it is: what the main Kora site lists, and every property that is still empty.
Read more Swatch card for the Kora coconut material -
Illustration Sample interest list for brands and crafters
Not an order and not a confirmed sample offer: a place where a brand or crafter says what it makes and which properties matter, so Kora knows what is wanted.
Read more Sample interest list for brands and crafters -
Illustration Label claim check sheet for materials
A sheet that turns the words on an alternative leather label or brochure into questions you can put to a supplier, with the evidence worth asking for.
Read more Label claim check sheet for materials
Latest articles
All articles-
What is vegan leather? Meaning, types and its limits
What vegan leather means, the kinds of material behind the label, examples read from makers' own pages on 22 Oct 2026, and what the label cannot tell you.
Read more What is vegan leather? Meaning, types and its limits -
PU leather vs PVC: differences for bags, shoes and wallets
How PU leather and PVC differ in synthetic leather: how the coating is made, what to ask a supplier, and which tests to request for bags, shoes and wallets.
Read more PU leather vs PVC: differences for bags, shoes and wallets -
How to tell real leather from synthetic on bags and shoes
Five hands-on checks to tell animal leather from synthetic leather on bags, shoes and wallets, plus the limits of each check and questions for a supplier.
Read more How to tell real leather from synthetic on bags and shoes
Made patiently, not with big claims.
Published by PT Kora Prima Abadi (Bogor). Kora is one of the producers discussed.