What is Alcantara? The material from exclusive car interiors
Alcantara is an Italian microfibre made from polyester and polyurethane that looks and feels like suede, but is built to take years of daily use. You find it on the steering wheel, the seats and the dashboard of sports cars — and also on the back of a phone. Below you can read what it is made of, how to clean it and why it works so well on an Alcantara phone case.
What is Alcantara made of?
Alcantara consists of roughly 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. Those microfibres are many times finer than a human hair, which is what creates the dense, soft pile you recognise from suede. No animal material is involved — it is entirely synthetic.
The material was developed in the early seventies by Miyoshi Okamoto, a chemist at the Japanese company Toray. In 1972 a partnership with the Italian ENI followed, and Alcantara has been made in Italy ever since: in Nera Montoro in Umbria, where the factory still stands today.
The manufacturer, Alcantara S.p.A., has been certified carbon neutral since 2009, according to TÜV SÜD. In addition, Alcantara S.p.A. holds an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate for its material, a textile label for products tested for harmful substances.
Why do car makers use Alcantara?
Because it grips, it does not reflect, it stays at an even temperature and it does not stretch. In a car interior, Alcantara ends up exactly on the surfaces you touch most often. Four reasons — and every one of them applies to something you hold all day.
- Grip. The pile stays dry to the touch, even when your hands are warm or slightly damp. Leather turns slippery at exactly that moment.
- No glare. The surface is matt and throws no light back into the windscreen. You see the same thing on a phone: no greasy fingerprints catching the light.
- Even temperature. The manufacturer describes the material as warm in winter and cool in summer. That makes it feel less extreme than smooth leather or plastic.
- It keeps its shape. It does not stretch and it does not go shiny where you touch it.
Why is Alcantara good for a phone case?
Because a phone is the object you pick up most often in a day, and Alcantara was built for precisely that. The same properties that make it right for a steering wheel make it right for the back of your handset: it sits securely in the hand, it feels warm rather than cold and clinical, and it still looks tidy after months of use.
We use genuine Italian Alcantara, not imitation suede. You feel the difference straight away: imitation has a shorter, stiffer pile that flattens quickly where your thumb rests. Our cases are made to measure per model, for the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, with MagSafe magnets built in.
Alcantara or leather: what is the difference?
Leather is a natural product and develops a patina over time — charm to one person, wear to another. It is also more sensitive to sunlight and dries out if you do not look after it. Alcantara changes far less: it stays matt and holds its colour.
Leather has its own charm, from the smell to the fact that it can be repaired. Alcantara wins on the things you notice every day: grip, weight and upkeep. Every product page carries a full comparison between Alcantara, leather and silicone, row by row.
Alcantara or microsuede: how do you tell them apart?
By the name, the pile and the price. “Suede look”, “microsuede” and “Alcantara style” are not Alcantara. The real fabric comes from a single factory in Italy and may only be sold under that name under licence — if the name is not written out in full, it is imitation.
Beyond that, two things give it away. The pile of real Alcantara is shorter and denser, and springs back when you run your thumb across it; imitation stays flat and develops a shiny patch within weeks. And the price: a case in real Alcantara simply costs more than one in microsuede, because the fabric itself costs more.
How do you clean Alcantara?
Brush it dry with a soft brush, and blot marks with a slightly damp cloth and a drop of mild soap. That is all there is to it. This is the question we get most often, and the answer is simpler than people expect. Four steps:
- Brush away dust and lint with a soft brush or a dry microfibre cloth, always in the same direction.
- For a mark: dampen a cloth with lukewarm water and a drop of mild soap. Blot the mark, do not rub.
- Go over it with a clean, slightly damp cloth and blot dry.
- Brush the pile back up once the material is dry, so the colour is even again.
What keeps it looking good: lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap, a soft brush and simply letting it air dry. The material needs nothing else.
Frequently asked questions about Alcantara
Is Alcantara real leather?
No. Alcantara is a synthetic microfibre made from 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. No animal material is used, so it is also an option if you would rather avoid leather.
Is Alcantara animal friendly?
Yes. The material is entirely synthetic and no animal is involved. The material from Alcantara S.p.A. also holds an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate, a textile label for products tested for harmful substances.
Does Alcantara wear out quickly?
No. The material was developed for car interiors, where it has to survive years of daily contact with hands and clothing. It does not go shiny the way leather does and it does not stretch. Which is why every Allgèr case comes with a one-year warranty against material and manufacturing defects, on top of your statutory rights.
How long does an Alcantara phone case last?
Years, with daily use. The pile stays upright where your thumb rests, and you do not get the shiny patches you see on leather or faux leather. What makes the difference is simple upkeep: keep the case dry and brush it off now and then.
Can Alcantara handle water?
A splash or a shower on the way to the car is no problem. Blot it with a dry cloth and let it air dry. Do not let the case soak through.
How do you clean an Alcantara phone case?
By hand, and it takes a minute: brush it off with a soft brush and blot a mark with lukewarm water and a drop of mild soap. That keeps the pile intact and the colour even.
What is the best thing to clean Alcantara with?
Lukewarm water and a drop of mild soap — nothing else is needed. That is gentle enough to keep the colour and the texture exactly as they are.
Does an Alcantara case get hot in the sun?
A phone in full sun always gets warm, even with a case. The manufacturer describes Alcantara as warm in winter and cool in summer, and it feels softer than smooth plastic.
Do MagSafe and wireless charging work through an Alcantara case?
Yes. Our cases have MagSafe magnets built in, so chargers, stands and the MagSafe card holder click straight on. Wireless charging works through it without trouble.
Does Alcantara attract dust and lint?
Less than you would expect. The pile is short and dense; dust sits on the surface and brushes straight off.
What does an Alcantara phone case cost?
With us an Alcantara case costs € 64,99 and the matching card holder € 39,99. Together they are € 94,98 instead of € 104,98. Current promotions are listed under offers.
Which iPhone are your cases made for?
The iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Our case for the iPhone 17 Pro also fits the iPhone 18 Pro, and our case for the iPhone 17 Pro Max also fits the iPhone 18 Pro Max. We have tested this ourselves. This applies to the cases we sell ourselves; we cannot speak for cases from other brands. Each case is made with cut-outs that line up exactly and a raised edge around screen and camera. Choose your model in the phone case collection.
Where is Alcantara made?
In Nera Montoro in Umbria, Italy. The material was invented in Japan, but has been produced exclusively in Italy since 1972.
What about Alcantara and the environment?
The manufacturer has been certified carbon neutral (TÜV SÜD) since 2009, and its material holds an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate. On top of that, the material lasts long enough that you are not buying a new case every six months.
Feel it for yourself
Description only takes you so far — Alcantara is a material you have to have held. Our cases come in seven colours, with a matching card holder in exactly the same shade.
See the phone cases · MagSafe card holders · Offers