The real material? (7)
I believe the answer is:
leather
'the real material?' is the definition.
'leather' can be an answer for 'material?' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'the real' bit.
'the real material?' is the wordplay.
'material?' indicates an anagram (the letters provide the material for a new word).
'the'+'real'='thereal'
'thereal' with letters rearranged gives 'LEATHER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leather that I've seen before include "Material made from animal skin" , "Thrash" , "calf" , "Tanned animal skin" , "Dressed hide" .)