What is Alcantara and where is it used?

Alcantara is a fabric that few people know about. The fact is that this is a special material that is used in narrow directions of sewing production.

Alcantara by its external features is very similar to suede fabric, it is just as delicate, velvety, but has absolutely nothing in common with artificial or natural leather.

The production is based on a thin polyurethane fiber, in simple terms, this material resembles microfiber. To make the fabric strong, it is treated with special adhesives. For decoration, the Alcantara can be painted in any color, the adhesive can be applied again and, if necessary, perforated.

To understand what properties are inherent in this material, you need to refer to the description from the manufacturers.

1. High durability (even after 2 years of constant use, Alcantara remains literally like new).
2. The possibility of heat exchange and air passage (this property is not available, for example, for natural leather or suede). Since the material is used mainly for the upholstery of car interiors, it will always be comfortable with it.
3. The ability to preserve the originally given shape (it can even be washed at home, in a washing machine, the manufacturer is absolutely confident in his product).
4. Excellent tolerance to chemicals and sudden changes in temperature (if a slight contamination appears on the fabric, then it can be easily cleaned with the help of special chemicals, but if there is still a fear of spoiling it, then it can be taken to dry cleaning).

In addition, Alcantara is easy to cut and sew, which is a big plus in the production process. The thing is that the material, unlike other fabrics, is elastic, so problems cannot arise when working with it. Another great advantage is the ease of maintenance.

Of the shortcomings, only the high cost of the finished product and the material itself can be noted. The fact is that the original production is located in Italy, in most cases it is used for upholstering the interiors of premium cars and expensive furniture.

The history of Alcantara began quite recently, in the early 70s of the last century. The author of this material is the Japanese scientist Miyoshi Okamoto. At the time of creation, he worked for Toray.

Two years later, Toray began cooperation with an Italian company, thanks to which active production was organized. The Japanese company provided the necessary equipment and production technology, and the Italians, in turn, were engaged in the manufacture and sale to the population. That is, the original Alcantara was sold under the brand of an Italian company, and the word "Alcantara" itself is of Spanish origin.

Like any fabric, Alcantara has its own varieties, each type is used for the production of a specific product.

Panel - the name speaks for itself. Such alcantara does not have a fabric backing, it is unsuitable for the manufacture of furniture, upholstery of seats in the passenger compartment. In most cases, it is used to wrap around the dashboard or ceiling of a car.

Cover - has a textile cushion, therefore it can be used for upholstery of seats in the passenger compartment.

Soft - this type of Alcantara has a foam rubber layer and perforation. In most cases, they are used to cover the ceiling.

Self-adhesive Alcantara is a unique type of material, since you can glue it yourself. It is used for minor repairs, its pile is much longer than that of other varieties. It is easy to care for, maintains good heat exchange at any time of the year.

Production does not stand still, in the manufacturing process, high-quality dyes are used that can dye Alcantara in almost any color: green, beige, black, blue, pink, red and others. Italian manufacturers will help you choose the right color and shade that will harmoniously fit into your home interior or car interior.

Alcantara is such a versatile material that it can be used in almost all areas of production. It is mainly used for the upholstery and upholstery of premium car interiors.

The upholstery of various furniture items (for example, a sofa, an armchair) is no longer a novelty. Such furniture looks very elegant, luxurious, but does not require additional daily maintenance. Alcantara with a textile backing is used in the production, which makes the furniture not only beautiful and durable, but also very comfortable.

Alcantara is also used for the upholstery of passenger aircraft and yachts, which once again confirms its quality. The material can be used in the production of clothing and accessories, footwear, as it has increased resistance to adverse weather conditions. The material has been used for covering jewelry boxes and premium headphone cases for several years.

Every year there are more and more manufactures that use Alcantara.

Since the fabric has a high cost, in most cases it is used in all areas for premium and luxury models.

When it comes to choosing a material, buyers often do not know how the fabrics differ and, accordingly, they have many questions. Let's make a small comparison of Alcantara with some popular materials.

Genuine leather has only an attractive appearance, giving the products additional chic and luxury, but in everyday life and in use it is impractical.

So, If leather is used for upholstery, it heats up quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. Passengers very often experience severe discomfort, since the skin temperature can reach 100 degrees. Alcantara wins a lot in this respect, as it has good heat and air permeability, which means that it will not be hot in the cabin in summer and not cold in winter.

Leather for the upholstery of a sofa is impractical, because it quickly begins to crack, pets can bring a particular danger to the material, even the smallest hold will remain on the skin and will be noticeable.

Alcantara does not require additional maintenance, and any chemical agent will cope with dirt on it. Natural leather often requires dry cleaning, the use of specialized products

Eco-leather consists of half of cotton material, therefore it is an excellent conductor of thermal energy. In this property, they are similar to Alcantara.

Eco-leather care is required much more than Alcantara (which it is enough to periodically wipe with a wet microfiber cloth).

To look attractive on furniture or in the interior of a car, eco-leather must fit tightly to the product; bad manufacturers often sin and make it from low-quality raw materials. All this will lead to the fact that the fabric begins to creep up within a few months after purchase. Alcantara will last about 10 years.

As mentioned earlier, Alcantara does not require special care conditions. In order for the material to always remain flawless, it is enough to periodically wipe it with a damp cloth.

Spring cleaning should be done once a month. First, the material must be cleaned of dust, you can use a vacuum cleaner. After a damp cloth, walk over the entire surface. If there is contamination, then a soap solution can be applied to them pointwise, it easily copes with even the most difficult contamination.

If stains appear, you can treat them with stain removers or a mixture of lemon juice and ethyl alcohol.

Although the fabric is wear-resistant, it can be damaged by aggressive external influences.

If the pollution is strong, then the fabric can be washed at home in the washing machine. The maximum temperature that can be set is 30 degrees, set the "no spin" mode. Any stain remover can be added to the drum or powder compartment.

You can also wash Alcantara manually. To do this, pour warm water into the container and add a little soap, gently wash the fabric and squeeze lightly.

Alcantara should be dried in the fresh air, constantly smoothing with a damp brush with a medium-hard bristle. During the washing and drying process, it is forbidden to use aggressive agents, as they can harm the product, and it will be permanently damaged.

Typically, after washing, the material has wrinkles and an unattractive appearance. In this case, it can be stroked. Be sure to put a damp thin rag or gauze on top of the fabric; at low temperatures, gently iron the Alcantara.

Alcantara is ideal for any product, as it has increased wear resistance, elasticity, good heat transfer. It is important to choose the original material, as many copies and fakes have appeared recently, manufacturers use similar company names and sell as the original. Now there are Chinese, Spanish, Korean manufacturers of Alcantara. All of this is not original production. In the case of buying such a product, Alcantara will last a maximum of a year, then it will begin to lose its basic properties. Usually buyers are attracted by a lower price. Good material with proper care can last 10 years or more. Enjoy the shopping!