To Hot Toys, as passionate collectors, we’re asking you to reconsider using pleather on your 1/6 scale figures. While it might look good at first, pleather just doesn’t hold up over time. It cracks, peels, and flakes far too quickly, even when figures are kept in ideal conditions. This is especially disappointing for those of us who spend a lot of money expecting these premium items to last. Genuine leather may cost more up front, but it’s proven to be far more durable and ages much better, which makes it a better fit for high-end collectibles. A shift to real leather would go a long way in showing that Hot Toys truly values long-term quality and collector satisfaction.

It’s especially frustrating when this problem shows up on some of the most well-known figures. Take Darth Vader, for example. His suit is almost completely pleather, and over time, that material just doesn’t hold up. But it’s not just him; a lot of figures are made this way. You buy these pieces thinking they’ll last for years, maybe even decades, but instead you end up watching them fall apart on the shelf. It takes away from the whole experience. Switching to real leather wouldn’t just solve the issue—it would show collectors that Hot Toys is serious about long-term quality.

Plenty of collectors have already started looking into custom replacements or even avoiding certain figures altogether because of the pleather issue. That shouldn’t be necessary for products in this price range. People are paying hundreds of dollars, sometimes more, with the expectation that these are premium, lasting collectibles—not temporary display pieces. Real leather might raise production costs slightly, but in the long run, it adds real value and preserves the figure’s condition far better. It’s a change that would be worth it, not just for durability, but for trust.