Check 1 of 4
Look at the grain
Real leather is never perfectly even. Small pores, lines and marks are normal. A surface that repeats the same pattern exactly, like a print, is a warning sign.
Check 2 of 4
Touch it
Real leather feels warm and soft. Press it with your thumb and it creases, then slowly recovers.
Check 3 of 4
Check the inside
Look at a cut edge or the back. Real leather shows fibres, not a fabric layer or a smooth plastic core.
Check 4 of 4
Smell it
Real leather has a natural, earthy smell. A strong chemical or plastic smell is a warning.
