Applications of Microfiber Leather in Shoe Upper Manufacturing

The shoe`s materials for sports shoes mainly include leather, mesh, and textiles. Among leather materials, natural leather has advantages in bending resistance, tensile strength, and breathability, but it is not washable and is relatively expensive, so it is less commonly used in sports shoes. artificial leather There are many types, usually divided into: artificial leather , combined finished leather and ultra-fine leather.

Microfiber leather (abbreviated as microfiber combination). finished leather ) is a high-performance synthetic leather material. It uses island fiber nonwoven fabric as the base material, which is impregnated with polyurethane paste and then solidified by wet methods to form island fiber/polyurethane composite materials. After fiber splitting processes (such as dissolution, alkali reduction, or toluene reduction), island fibers become ultrafine fibers, ultimately resulting in a microfiber/polyurethane composite material, known as microfiber composite finished leather Kibu. Adding ultrafine fibers to PU polyurethane (commonly known as leather) further enhances toughness, breathability, and wear resistance; It has outstanding wear resistance, as well as excellent cold resistance, breathability, and aging resistance.

Performance advantages of microfiber leather:

•  Lightweight and mechanical performance ： Microfiber leather typically has a specific gravity of 0.3-0.5, which is much lighter than natural leather (which has a specific gravity of 0.6), which can reduce the weight of the upper upper; in addition, microfiber leather has excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength and tear strength reaching natural levels cow leather Three times the size of leather.
•  Weather resistance ： Microfiber leather has excellent aging resistance, maintaining stable physical properties in both high and low temperature environments, and is not easily faded or brittle due to UV exposure.
•  Good simulation capability ： Ultra-fiber combination finished leather Its appearance and feel are very similar to natural leather, offering a high degree of realism.
•  Good breathability ： Microfiber leather has good breathability and moisture permeability, but its overall hygiene performance is slightly inferior to natural leather.  
•  Environmental protection ： The production process of microfiber leather is non-toxic, energy-saving, and carbon-reducing; Low VOC during use, highly durable, and requires no chemical maintenance; Moreover, its recycling rate is extremely high (over 95%), aligning with the concept of full lifecycle sustainable development.

Microfiber leather is environmentally friendly, lightweight, and has superior physical properties. It is increasingly favored in the market and has become one of the most common materials used for sports shoe uppers. By enhancing its siphon resistance, breathability, and softness, the use of microfiber leather in sneakers and other footwear materials can be further enhanced.

Therefore, microfiber leather has become a material for many shoe manufacturers. The characteristics of the raw materials determine that microfiber leather has excellent tear strength, high tensile strength, good fold resistance, superior cold resistance, and mildew resistance. The finished product is thick and full, highly realistic in imitation, and contains low VOC (volatile organic compounds). The surface is easy to clean, and the structure is similar to natural leather.

The shoe lining structure is made of non-woven fabric, which has excellent moisture absorption and breathability, greatly improving durability. The coating is made of polyurethane, which has many advantages: due to its microporous structure, it improves breathability, has good hygiene, is wear-resistant, cold-resistant (it remains soft in cold weather and is less likely to break), solvent-resistant, heat-resistant, fold-resistant, tear-resistant, soft, shiny, and comfortable to the touch.

Comparison between genuine leather and microfiber leather:

Appearance: Microfiber leather is the most similar to genuine leather in artificial leather, and its appearance is very close to genuine leather. When pressed by hand, genuine leather has natural wrinkles, while microfiber leather wrinkles are slightly unnatural; For different small leather pieces, the chance that every piece of genuine leather has the same texture is very low; for microfiber leather, every piece has the same texture; Looking at the back, microfiber leather generally has extremely fine fibers, and genuine leather has pores; Genuine leather has a soft luster, while ultra-fibrous leather has a brighter sheen;

Weight: Microfiber leather weighs less than genuine leather; the specific gravity of genuine leather is generally 0.6, while microfiber leather has a specific gravity less than or equal to 0.5.

Odor: Genuine leather is animal hide, so it has a strong odor, even a foul smell. If excessive formaldehyde, heavy metals, and other substances are added during processing, the leather will develop a pungent odor. Microfiber leather, on the other hand, is artificial leather with a milder smell; high-quality microfiber leather is basically odorless.

Performance: Both microfiber leather and genuine leather have good properties. Microfiber leather excels in abrasion and aging resistance. Microfiber leather can be washed with water or brushed directly with a brush.

Materials: Genuine leather is sourced from animals, and its quantity, size, and shape are limited by the animal, whereas microfiber leather is… artificial leather This makes sourcing materials more convenient, allows for greater quantity, and provides more stable quality and performance.

Price: Generally, genuine leather is priced higher than microfiber leather (referring to top-layer leather), and the price of genuine leather fluctuates depending on market supply and demand.