Alternative leather terms, unpacked
One name can hide very different materials. Here is how to read them.
Terms
- Synthetic leather
- The common local term. Usually a PU or PVC layer on a fabric base. Not plant-derived.
- Vegan leather
- A marketing term meaning no animal-derived content. It does not by itself say the material is plant-based or low-impact: plastic-based synthetics are sold under it too.
- Plant-based
- Derived from plants. Often still carries a synthetic polymer coating or adhesive.
- Bioleather
- A loose label for leather-like material from biological sources, for example bacterial cellulose. There is no single agreed definition.
- Bacterial cellulose
- A fermentation product, such as nata. Sheets must be dried and usually receive a finish.
- Vegetable-tanned leather
- A common mix-up. It is animal hide tanned with plant tannin, so it is not vegan material. In Indonesian it is “kulit nabati”.
- Mycelium leather
- A leather-like material from fungal mycelium, also called mushroom leather. In Indonesian do not say “kulit jamur”: searchers mostly read that as a human skin condition.
- Coconut “leather”
- In Indonesian “kulit kelapa” usually means coconut husk sold by the kilo, not a leather-like sheet. Name coconut sheet material by its process or base material.
What a name does not tell you
- How strong and durable the material is.
- Whether the finished material is free of plastic.
- Whether the final coating supports a given claim.
Examples from material makers
According to pages read on 22 Oct 2026, Malai says its material is bacterial cellulose from coconut water, and Desserto says its material is cactus-based. Neither shows test data on its main page. NFW writes that MIRUM is “plant-based, plastic-free”; that is a company claim, not a test result.
On the same date the Bolt Threads page said the company is no longer operating. Alternative materials can stop being made, so check availability before you design around one. This list gives examples and no ranking.