This fabric is used in many other high-end products, but what makes it so special?
In cars, on the surface of expensive Louis Vuitton bags, in the cabin of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, on the surface of Microsoft’s Surface laptops, and on special cases for the Samsung S8 and S8+ have one thing in common: It’s Alcantara fabric . What is it and why is it so popular?
There is a folk legend that Alcantara fabric is made from the Alcantar animal, a cross between a llama and an ostrich, living on the border between Peru and Greece. But research shows that Alcantar is a non-real animal, and Greece and Peru are not close to each other, so the above legend is not true.
In fact, Alcantara is a synthetic suede and it’s basically like an ultrasuede fabric – a fabric that also has micro-synthetic fibers.
First, let’s turn the page of history to see where this Alcantara fabric came from.
Alcantara is a synthetic suede.
In 1970, a Japanese scientist named Miyoshi Okamoto developed a synthetic material called Ultrasuede for the company Toray Industries, where he was working. Two years later, Mr. Okamoto signed an agreement with the company aniC Group (later to become the Italian company Eni), after Eni and Toray cooperated, they trademarked the material. In 1981, the company Alcantara SpA was established with 51% of the company shares belonging to Eni and 49% belonging to Toray.
They named the fabric material after the company – Alcantara. It’s a stain- and scratch-resistant synthetic material that’s more resilient when compared to suede – Alcantara was created to replace the fabric itself.
The car interior is upholstered in Alcantara fabric.
Although the Italians have also tried to keep this fabric a secret, digging into their annual report reveals the production process with the raw material of thermoplastic polymer resin, from which microfibers will be made. The way Alcantara is made has changed many times over the past few decades, and because the manufacturing process includes thawing and freezing processes, the company is quick to highlight its pollution control plans, that they have effective measures to ensure the safety of the environment.
The microfiber finished product of the manufacturing process is used to create a fabric composed of numerous microfibers. They are so small that about half a kilogram of microfiber is enough to pull it from Earth to the Moon (387,400km). The fibers (including tiny microfibers) are treated by various methods, gradually turning into the Alcantara faux suede fabric we know.
Laptop Surface.
Both Alcantara and Ultrasuede fabrics have the same manufacturing technology, both made in 1970 and also made by Mr. Miyoshi Okamoto. The difference is that Alcantara is made in Italy and has a better name , while Ultrasuede is made in Japan and is widely used in the US market. Besides, they have some slight differences in color and appearance.
Not many people know about the Ultrasuede fabric brand, so this phrase is widely used to refer to synthetic fabrics made from microfibers in general.
Alcantara fabric, better name, more famous, made in Italy, helped the late scientist Miyoshi Okamoto win the Leonardo Prize for his contribution to products “made in Italy”. It turns out that just having a good name makes the difference very obvious.
Alcantara fabric is often used in luxury European cars.
Alcantara fabric is often used in luxury European cars. Because the fabric color is very durable, does not fade and the fabric is resistant to abrasion due to rubbing, this fabric passes the “Arizona test” for UV exposure and heat resistance.
Some luxury cars, luxurious enough to wrap Alcantara on the steering wheel (such as some Porsches, BMW M series, some Lamborghinis like Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) will have an Alcantara fabric with a different formula, because the shape of the steering wheel requires a more special material. Alcantara fabric is often used to cover the seats and cover the ceiling. Alcantara fabric also has the ability to reduce heat from burning to a certain extent, so the seats of formula 1 cars are also covered with this fabric.
You already know more about the Alcantara fabric used to cover the leather seats and cover the Surface laptop. Once again, we know the power of a brand and a good name.