is the brand name of a synthetic leather-like material, commonly used in gloves, footwear, handbags, and law enforcement duty gear. Versions are made that simulate suede

Suede

Suede is a type of leather with a napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, purses, furniture and other items. The term comes from the French "gants de Suède", which literally means "gloves of Sweden"....

 and top-grain leather. It is manufactured by Kuraray

Kuraray

is a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and other materials founded in Kurashiki, Okayama, but based in Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo and Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka . , Kuraray was the sole worldwide producer of Vectran liquid crystal polymer fibre....

Co., Ltd. of Japan.

Being a man-made material, it is washable and retains its softness when wet, unlike natural leather.

Manufacturers

• Kuraray America
• Kuraray Japan — parent company