Footwear

Footwear is one of the largest end uses for synthetic leather. Shoe makers use it for uppers, linings, and trims because it offers consistent quality across large production runs, a wide range of colors and textures, and a lower cost than natural leather.

Which Synthetic Leather for Which Part of a Shoe

Shoe part	What it needs	Typical material
Upper (outer surface)	Flex resistance, abrasion resistance, good appearance	PU leather, microfiber leather
Lining	Comfort, moisture handling, softness	PU leather, microfiber, or textile lining
Trims and overlays	Color, embossing, finish	PU or semi-PU leather
Insole covering	Abrasion and comfort	PU or microfiber

For performance-oriented or premium footwear, microfiber leather is a common upper material because of its better abrasion resistance and hand-feel. For fashion and volume footwear, PU leather gives the widest choice of textures and finishes.

What to Specify

When requesting material for a shoe project, the main points to settle are:

• Material type — PU, microfiber, or semi-PU
• Thickness and weight — suited to the shoe construction and lasting method
• Backing — woven, knitted, or non-woven, which affects stretch and stability when lasting
• PU type — ester-based or ether-based PU, which differ in hydrolysis (humidity) resistance; see What is PU Leather?
• Surface finish — smooth, embossed, glossy, or matte; see What Is Patent Leather? for high-gloss finishes
• Flex and abrasion performance — ask for test results suited to your target market

Market Context

Footwear manufacturing is concentrated in Southeast and South Asia. In China’s PU leather export data, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and India appear among the largest and fastest-growing destination markets. See the numbers in our China PU Leather Export Trade Report.

Request Samples and Specifications

For material specifications and physical samples for your shoe project, contact us.