Faux leather fabrics — also called synthetic leather, vegan leather, or artificial leather — are textiles engineered to imitate the look and feel of genuine leather, but made without using animal hides. They are typically constructed from a fabric base (such as polyester, cotton, or microfiber) that is coated with a layer of polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other polymers to create a smooth, leather-like surface.