A dining chair that is used every day, a bar stool in a busy venue or a motorhome interior that has to withstand knocks: skai is a logical choice for many upholstery projects. The material has a clean, smart look, is easy to clean and is available in many colours, designs and textures. Even so, not every type of skai is suitable for every application. If you pay attention to a few practical properties in advance, you will avoid disappointment both while upholstering and in use. See, for example, our Skai Amalfi faux leather.
What exactly is skai or faux leather?
In everyday use, skai is often used as a catch-all term for faux leather. Skai was originally a brand name, but nowadays many people use it to mean a faux leather covering with a synthetic top layer and a textile backing. That top layer is usually made of PVC or polyurethane, also known as PU.
You will come across the material under many names: faux leather, skai, imitation leather, synthetic leather, vinyl or vegan leather. These terms are used interchangeably, even though composition and properties differ from product to product. Besides furniture, faux leather is also used for clothing, bags and other accessories.
The difference matters. PVC faux leather is often firm, holds its shape and is highly resistant to moisture. That is why you see it a lot on chairs, bar stools, boats and other furniture that gets heavy use. One example is Skai faux leather Boston: 100% PVC, 1.2 mm thick and 100,000 Martindale. PU faux leather generally feels softer and more supple and can have a more natural leather look, such as Skai faux leather Arizona vintage with its natural grain and antique patina. Which version is best depends on the piece of furniture, the look you want and how much wear it will get.
So skai is not a cheap alternative that inevitably looks like plastic. Quality varies widely. Modern upholstery grades can have an attractive grain, a matt finish or a subtle texture. From classic black and cognac to cream, taupe or bold colours, a lot is possible without the care demands of real leather. Torn between faux leather and real leather? Then read faux leather versus real leather.
Skai, faux leather or leatherette: what is the difference?
In substance there is none: skai, faux leather and leatherette are names for the same type of material, a textile backing with a synthetic top layer and a leather look. Skai leather is simply the name many people use out of habit. The difference that really matters lies in the top layer: PVC or PU.
- PVC faux leather is often firm, holds its shape well and resists moisture. In our range, Skai faux leather Montana scratch-resistant, Primera and Bronco are among the PVC qualities (95% PVC, 5% PES).
- PU faux leather usually feels softer and more supple and can have a more natural leather look. Examples are Skai / faux leather Verona (95% PU, 5% PES), Ravenna, Arizona vintage and Aversa.
So choose by composition and application rather than by name. You can compare all qualities side by side in the faux leather by the metre or roll collection.
Why choose skai as a furniture covering?
The great strength of skai is the combination of looks and ease of use. Spilt coffee, greasy fingers or dust do not soak into the fibres as they do with many woven upholstery fabrics. With a soft, slightly damp cloth, the covering is usually clean again in no time. That makes faux leather particularly practical for families, hospitality, waiting rooms, care settings and vehicles.
The material also offers design advantages. Skai has limited stretch, so clean shapes and crisp lines come into their own. Think of an upholstered wall, a tight seat cushion or a set of modern dining chairs. For rounded shapes and deep buttoning, a supple grade is easier to work with than a very thick, stiff one.
Faux leather is also an animal-friendly choice if you want a leather look but do not want to use animal materials. Don't just look at the colour, though. The backing, thickness, suppleness and abrasion resistance ultimately determine whether a material is pleasant to work with and stays looking good for a long time.
The benefits in practice
Skai is easy to maintain, hygienic and generally stands up well to everyday use. Our faux leather grades are usually 138 to 140 cm wide, so you can work with fewer seams on many projects. That is handy for long cushions, benches and panels.
Points to watch
Faux leather breathes less than fabric or real leather and can feel stickier in warm weather. A cheap or unsuitable grade may harden, crack or peel over time, especially if the furniture gets a lot of sun, heat or friction. So don't choose on price alone, but on the conditions in which the furniture will be used.
Choosing skai by furniture and application
For a kitchen chair or bar stool, being wipeable is often the first requirement. Choose a solid upholstery grade that can withstand frequent cleaning and friction, such as Skai faux leather Primera scratch-resistant (300,000 Martindale) or the supple PU faux leather Faux leather / skai RIF - Vandal-resistant (more than 150,000 Martindale). For an armchair or sofa, comfort is at least as important. A softer, more supple skai usually feels better there. A thin grade such as Arome PVC faux leather 0.7mm, on the other hand, is intended for decorative projects and light use, not for heavily used seating.
For motorhomes, caravans, boats and car interiors, temperature changes, moisture and UV exposure play a bigger role. In that case, choose a grade that suits those conditions. Standard upholstery faux leather may look good, but it is not automatically the best choice for a boat cushion or dashboard panel. Also read our articles on faux leather for boat upholstery and motorhome upholstery.
For commercial projects, such as hospitality or care settings, extra requirements may apply for fire safety, disinfection or heavy use. Always ask for the technical specifications the project requires. Skai faux leather Arizona vintage, for example, meets EN 1021-1. A material that works perfectly on four dining chairs at home does not automatically meet the requirements of a hotel, restaurant or public space. You can find more information on our page faux leather for projects and hospitality.
For contract furniture, look not only at abrasion resistance but also at tear strength and tensile strength: these matter for tightly upholstered furniture that takes frequent loads. Check requirements for fire safety, cleaning or disinfection before you order, not once the chairs are already at the upholsterer. A contract grade may cost more per metre, but is often cheaper than having to reupholster early.
When choosing skai, pay attention to four things:
- suppleness and thickness, to suit the shape of the furniture;
- abrasion resistance and suitability for the intensity of use;
- resistance to moisture, sunlight and cleaning products;
- colour and texture, judged in the light where the furniture will stand.
A sample is no unnecessary luxury here. A colour can look cooler or warmer on screen than at home, and the sheen and tactile texture only really become clear once you hold the material in your hands. See, for example, our Bronco faux leather.
Colour, grain and finish
Faux leather has long since moved beyond glossy black or cognac. A matt finish looks calmer and hides light signs of use better; a glossy version suits a retro chair, a bar or a bold interior. The grain makes a difference too. A fine leather look works almost anywhere, while a coarser grain looks more natural and better disguises small irregularities in the base. For a crisp panel or a minimalist chair, a smooth grade looks better, provided the base is perfectly flat.
Comparing quality without guesswork
Compare not only the price per metre, but also the width, composition, thickness, stretch, abrasion resistance and recommended use. A budget grade can work perfectly well for a decorative cushion or a piece that sees little use; for a set of dining chairs or a commercial interior, consistent colour and reliable technical properties matter more. Allow for cutting waste with patterns and seams, and order everything at once for several chairs in one project, so that colour differences between dye batches are kept to a minimum.
Working with skai without unnecessary creases
Upholstering with faux leather calls for careful preparation. First check that the base is smooth. Unevenness, old staples, sharp edges and coarse seams can later show through the top layer. Where necessary, use a thin interlayer such as Dacron or wadding by the metre so that the foam and covering fit more neatly.
It is best to replace damaged foam or worn Dacron straight away. New upholstery over a poor base may look nicely taut on day one, but soon shows the flaws again.
Cut the material with a generous allowance. Starting too tight is a common mistake, especially on chairs with corners and curves. Pull skai evenly as you fix it, but don't force it. If you pull too hard, the shape can distort or extra tension will build up on seams and staples over time.
Faux leather often stretches more in one direction than the other. Work out that direction before you cut, especially for seats, curved shapes and panels, and lay out the material generously.
On a seat, always work from the centre outwards. Fix two opposite sides first and check regularly that the texture runs straight. Only then finish the corners. On a smooth grade, crooked lines and creases are quickly noticeable, so working calmly really does give a better result.
For sewing, a suitable needle is important, such as a sewing machine needle for leather. Test the stitch length on an offcut first. Stitches that are too small perforate the material close together, which can weaken a seam. Avoid using pins on visible areas: every hole remains visible. Clips or temporary tape on the seam allowance are often a better alternative.
The choice of adhesive also deserves attention. Not every adhesive bonds well to synthetics, and some products can damage the top layer. Choose an adhesive suitable for faux leather, such as Bijlard Contact Adhesive 1 litre or the heat-resistant spray adhesive, and follow the working time carefully. Especially with panels, wall coverings and complex shapes, the right adhesive largely determines how crisp the end result will be.
On wood, staples are a quick and reliable fixing. Contact adhesive is useful for thin panels, edges or areas where stapling is not possible. Follow the product instructions: joining too early or using too much adhesive can leave visible bumps.
Care keeps faux leather looking good for longer
Day-to-day care is simple: remove dust and wipe off stains as quickly as possible with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. If needed, use a mild, pH-neutral soap, but remove any soap residue thoroughly afterwards. Dry the surface with a clean cloth rather than leaving the material to dry wet.
Avoid harsh cleaning agents, abrasives, solvents, acetone and products with a high alcohol content. These can dull, dry out or damage the protective layer. Hard brushes are not a good idea either. For stubborn stains, testing on an inconspicuous area first is the safest approach. You can find more tips in faux leather care: dos and don'ts.
Don't place skai furniture right in front of a radiator or behind glass in bright sun for long periods. Heat and UV radiation speed up the ageing of many types of faux leather. This applies especially to furniture in a conservatory, motorhome or boat. A little care over placement can make years of difference.
When is a different upholstery fabric the smarter choice?
Skai is strong, but not always the most comfortable or suitable choice. For a large lounge corner where you sit for a long time, a soft chenille, bouclé or woven upholstery fabric can feel warmer and more breathable. In a home with pets, a tightly woven, pet-friendly upholstery fabric may be more practical if scratches are a real risk.
For an authentic look that ages naturally, real leather remains in a category of its own. It needs more care and costs more, but it also develops a distinctive patina. Faux leather, by contrast, offers predictability in colour, cleaning and price. So the best choice is not universal; it depends on how you use the furniture.
View and order skai at Bladi
If you want to reupholster, you don't have to rely on a product photo. Compare materials, feel the difference between supple and firm faux leather and think in advance about use, cleaning and working methods. In the faux leather by the metre or roll collection you will find skai and faux leather for anything from a single chair to professional projects. Would you like to see the materials in person first? Visit our showroom at Boomsesteenweg 947C, 2610 Wilrijk (Antwerpen), or get in touch for advice.
