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Published: December 27, 2020
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Nubuck is a fabric whose fibers visually imitate velvet (literal translation from English is “new suede”). The tactilely pleasant material is actively used in the clothing industry. Due to its wear resistance and attractive appearance, it is used in the production of furniture upholstery and the outer part of shoes.
- 1 Visual description and properties
- 2 Dressing method
- 3 Pros and cons
- 4 How to distinguish natural from fake
- 5 Care
- 6 Cleaning
- 7 How to dry properly
- 8 Painting
- 9 Conclusion
Visual description and properties
Natural nubuck is a soft, pleasant-to-touch fabric. Short fibers are “pliable” and are laid in the direction of movement. A distinctive feature is durability. Unlike its suede counterpart, it is not damaged by exposure to aggressive environments. With proper care, it retains its original appearance throughout its entire service life.
The canvas has a number of characteristics:
- strength. Tear resistant and stretchable. This allows you to give an object a given shape;
- wear resistance;
- breathability. Natural air circulation prevents fogging and freezing. A comfortable microclimate is created;
- invulnerability to moisture. During the production process, the outer layer is sanded. Microdamages make the fabric weakened to allow liquid to pass through. The surface is treated with a special solution that prevents water from penetrating inside;
- keeps warm. The material is often used when sewing winter and demi-season shoes;
- aesthetic appearance. The photo of the models does not differ from the original.
Note! The price of natural nubuck is lower than leather, but higher than the usual suede.
Advantages of nubuck shoes
Products made from this material are distinguished not only by their elegance, but also by their high strength. They can easily serve their owner for 2-3 seasons (of course, if you care for them properly).
The main advantage is that these shoes have an excellent “ventilation system”. It is not at all hot in the summer season, but quite warm in the summer. In addition, the shoes are very light and visually presentable.
Pros:
- natural eco-friendly leather;
- breathable and lightweight;
- inexpensive and accessible;
- stronger than suede.
Dressing method
Nubuck is leather that is treated with chrome tanning. The goal of the process is to turn the fur-free skin into leather. The addition of chromium salts speeds up production. The cycle lasts no more than a day. The output is a canvas with a bluish tint.
The resulting product is ready for further processing. The canvas is sanded and painted.
Important! The chromium used is completely safe for humans.
Vegetable tanning involves the use of tannins. These are substances contained in wood, leaves and bark (oak, willow and other plants). When undyed, the fabric takes on a natural beige tint. The resulting material gradually darkens. A distinctive feature is a characteristic pleasant smell.
For information! Vegetable tanning is a long process. Production takes a year. The subtleties of preparation and processing of raw materials affect the price of the final product.
To reduce the cost of the material, synthetic fiber is used. The result is artificial nubuck leather. Despite its visual appeal, the canvas has low quality characteristics.
Nubuck: what kind of material is it?
You've probably heard of nubuck. It is also sometimes confused with velor or suede, but it differs from them in the method of tanning and the raw materials used.
There are two types of this material: natural and artificial. The latter is also called synthetic. It is created from polymer fiber, which is compressed into several layers. Externally, it is quite close to natural.
If we talk about natural nubuck, then it is made from cattle hides. For this purpose, the chrome tanning method is used. Thanks to sanding with low-abrasive sandpaper using fine-grained sand, it acquires a velvety appearance. It also makes the leather durable and breathable.
Advantages and disadvantages
Compared to its analogues, nubuck has a number of positive features:
- "breathes". The ability to pass air does not affect the heat preservation function;
- strength. Withstands increased load, mechanical damage, frost;
- stretching “Stretchability” allows you to give the fabric a given shape;
- wide color palette. Easily painted in any shade;
- suitable for making all-season footwear from warm winter boots to light summer ballet shoes;
- looks impressive and expensive.
The undoubted advantage is the price. This criterion makes the paintings in demand.
Along with its advantages, nubuck has several features that must be taken into account before purchasing a product:
- sensitivity to high humidity. Things are durable only after water-repellent treatment. If you neglect this point, you may encounter a number of problems. The structure of the canvas changes and loses its quality characteristics. When kept in liquid for a long time, it becomes deformed;
- labor-intensive care. To maintain the original appearance, the owner will have to clean the shoes daily with special products;
- low practicality. The nubuck material is easily soiled, so most users try to wear things for a “special occasion” and do not wear them in rain or snow;
- gradual loss of color. Bright shades fade, pale ones “burn out” completely. This is due to frequent cleanings. The problem can be solved by using care creams and sprays with the addition of an identical dye;
- possibility of rubbing. Hard material does not tolerate oiling, so you will have to break it in naturally.
Author:
Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna
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