When it comes to sustainability in the fashion industry, the question of leather has particularly become a controversial topic. Over the years, the fashion industry has produced goods using animal furs, feathers, and all sorts of leather products, spurring industry experts to search for ethical and sustainable alternatives to continue creating timeless fashion pieces.
As of recently, cruelty-free fashion has made its way onto the radars of fashion enthusiasts, with leading top luxury brands like Stella McCartney completing collections made from vegan leather using earth-friendly recycled polyester.
The question regarding vegan leather can be quite tricky to answer, which is why we’re here to discuss the misconceptions between sourced leather versus eco-friendly leather.
What is Vegan leather?
When it comes down to it, vegan leather is any leather that isn’t made of animal skin, yet it has raised environmental issues due to the mass production of faux leather products. We’ve recently seen alternative leather products becoming increasingly popular as consumers are becoming more conscious of animal welfare. However, many of the so-called ‘vegan’ leather is made from two different plastic polymers: PU, polyurethane and PVC polyvinyl chloride, creating a wrinkled texture that provides a genuine effect of natural leather, but the use of both materials is neither sustainable nor biodegradable.
Many fast fashion brands have opted for vegan leather because of its affordable costs, which are easier to obtain. Still, the products have lower quality and are unsustainable, as the short life span causes the material to fall apart and end up sitting in landfills for centuries.
What is plant-based vegan leather?
Plant-based leather has become an innovative concept that strays away from typical plastic leather, offering a wide selection of options that check off cruelty-free and ethically-sourced fabrics. The many vegetable leather options are durable as animal leather while providing a lower carbon impact on animal produced leather.
From mushroom leather, also known as Mylo, which provides a soft leather-like finish to Cactus leather, Apple leather and Pineapple leather which create an alternative material that is completely non-toxic and biodegradable.
What leather should I be investing in?
When it comes to deciding between the two, both sides have strong arguments. The best option is thoroughly researching each item before purchasing it. If you are thinking of buying vegan leather, look into the brand and be aware of the products they use and how they’re manufactured. If you are opting for plant-based leather, read up on the brand’s manufacturing and become aware of its ethical processes. Regardless of the latest trends or aesthetics, find out who you’re giving your money to and whether or not you support their process.
