Close-up of the peach-skin soft vegan suede on a taupe buckle clog, on linen with fabric swatches

Vegan suede, microsuede, suede: what's the difference?

On a product page, you'll see "suede", "microsuede", "velvet" or "faux suede" used interchangeably. Yet these words refer to very different materials, with origins, feels and care needs that have nothing in common. Here's how to see clearly before you buy.

In short

Suede is a sanded animal leather with a velvety feel.
Microsuede is a fabric that imitates the look of suede.
Vegan suede is a dense microfibre with a peach-skin feel, with no animal-derived materials at all.

Suede: a leather of animal origin

Today, suede refers to leather (most often calf, goat or lamb) whose surface has been sanded to give it a velvety look. Suede is soft and supple, but it dislikes water, stains easily and needs regular care. Its price is generally high.

Microsuede: a fabric that imitates suede

Microsuede is a fabric, often polyester-based, whose surface is brushed to reproduce the look and feel of suede. Its quality varies a lot from one manufacturer to another: a thin microsuede can wear quickly, while a dense, well-made microsuede is durable and very pleasant.

Vegan suede: a microfibre with a peach-skin feel

The vegan suede we use is a dense microfibre with a very short nap, whose feel is reminiscent of peach skin. It contains no animal-derived materials. Its density helps it keep its shape over time, and it's easy to care for with a damp cloth and a soft brush. It's the material of all our shoes, from the Sienna clog to the Cortina bootie.

Black and leopard-print vegan suede clogs placed on a linen cloth

The comparison

	Suede	Microsuede	Vegan suede
Origin	Animal leather	Fabric	Microfibre, no animal materials
Feel	Velvety, supple	Velvety, varies with quality	Peach skin, dense
Care	Demanding, specific products	Simple	Damp cloth and soft brush
Water and stains	Sensitive	Variable	Handles everyday splashes
Price	High	Affordable	Affordable

How to identify a shoe's material?

The label: in Europe, the composition of the upper, lining and sole must be stated. A hide-shaped pictogram indicates leather, a woven diamond indicates fabric.
The feel: suede often shows slight natural irregularities, while a microfibre is more uniform.
The price: "suede" sold very cheaply should raise a red flag.

Which one to choose?

It all depends on your priorities. If you want the velvety look of suede, easy care, an affordable price and no animal materials, vegan suede ticks every box. That's why we chose it for our entire collection, including our winter styles like the Bormio lined clog, whose faux-fur lining is also 100% free of animal materials.