A free, plain-English scorecard of the seven materials we manufacture most — PU leather, genuine leather, canvas, nylon, Oxford, denim and RPET. Compare cost, durability, water-resistance and eco-score at a glance before you choose your wholesale line.
| Material | Rel. cost | Durability | Water-resist. | Eco-score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU leather | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | Most private-label & fashion lines |
| Genuine leather | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | Luxury / heritage positioning |
| Canvas (cotton) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Totes, beach, eco brands |
| Nylon | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | Travel, sport, rain markets |
| Oxford (polyester weave) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | Everyday, promotional, backpacks |
| Denim | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Streetwear, statement bags |
| RPET (recycled) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Sustainable / GRS brands |
Indicative ex-factory price for a mid-size handbag, before freight, duty and branding. Use it to model your retail margin:
| Material | Typical ex-factory (USD/pc) | Duty class (HS) |
|---|---|---|
| PU leather | $3 – $9 | 4202.12 (synthetic) |
| Genuine leather | $15 – $45+ | 4202.11 (leather) |
| Canvas | $2.5 – $7 | 4202.21 (textile) |
| Nylon | $3 – $8 | 4202.21 (textile) |
| Oxford | $2.5 – $6 | 4202.21 (textile) |
| Denim | $4 – $10 | 4202.21 (textile) |
| RPET | $4 – $11 | 4202.21 (textile) |
For the US and EU, synthetic (PU) and textile (canvas/nylon) bags usually face equal or lower import duty than leather — another margin advantage for PU and canvas programs.
All materials we use can be supplied to meet key regulations: PU and synthetics to REACH (EU) and CA Prop 65 (California); textiles to OEKO-TEX; recycled content to GRS. Tell us your target market and we select compliant inputs and provide the test reports.
Yes — a common build is a PU body with leather trim, or canvas body with PU base. We handle mixed-material construction and declare the correct HS code on the invoice.
PU and Oxford take foil, embossing and screen print cleanly. Canvas suits embroidery and screen print. We'll recommend the branding method per material in your quote.
Yes — we send a free material swatch set (PU / leather / canvas / RPET) so you can feel the quality before bulk order. Request via WhatsApp or the inquiry form.
Send your target price, market and style — we'll recommend the best material and return a sample + quote within 48 hours.
For most private-label and wholesale brands, PU (polyurethane) leather is the best balance: it looks like genuine leather, costs a fraction (often 1/5 to 1/10), passes REACH/CA Prop 65, and ships duty-efficiently under HS 4202.12. Canvas and RPET win on eco-story; genuine leather wins on luxury positioning but at higher cost and duty.
No. PU leather (polyurethane) is a synthetic coating over a fabric backing. It is not animal hide. It is labelled 'vegan leather' or 'faux leather'. Genuine leather is animal skin. Both are widely used; PU is the lower-cost, higher-margin choice for most wholesale programs.
PU and PVC-coated synthetics and nylon are the most water-resistant (score 5/5). Canvas and denim are absorbent unless treated. Genuine leather resists light rain but needs care. For rainy-market buyers (UK, Northern Europe), PU or nylon is recommended.
RPET (recycled polyester from bottles) and organic canvas rank highest on recycled content. Genuine leather is durable (long life) but has higher processing impact. We supply GRS-certified RPET and OEKO-TEX canvas on request for brands with a sustainability claim.
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