Vegan Leather: Why It Belongs In Your Wardrobe
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An increasing number of people are giving up on meat and animal products for their meals.
The vegan mentality is very popular in the food industry.
You may not be fully aware of it, but the trend is becoming a thing in the fashion industry, as well.
People are demanding vegan garments, and leather is the prime example.
Vegan leather, though, is an oxymoron – there is no such thing as “real” vegan leather.
By definition, leather is animal skin made to maintain its structure and appearance permanently.
So, what is vegan leather?
In this article, we’ll explore this exciting material.
What Is Vegan Leather?
Vegan leather might sound like an oxymoron, but these products clearly exist.
So, what are they?
Faux leather refers to synthetic products, by and large.
We’ve all seen these products in various shopping mall stores, and they don’t feel like real leather.
That said, fake leather clothes do look the part and can be fashionable.
Remember, we’re talking about faux leather here, not necessarily vegan leather.
In theory, faux leather is vegan, but it does come with a significant downside.
It is made from plastic-based PVC and polyurethane (PU).
If PVC-PU mix sounds like a pollutant, that’s because both of these compounds are.
So, with eco-friendliness out of the window, faux leather doesn’t really click with the vegan mentality.
What Is Vegan Leather Made of?
So, what is vegan leather made of?
Vegan leather mostly refers to innovative, nature-based products, where the leather products are made out of bark, cork, apple peel, pineapple leaves, etc.
These alternatives are of high quality, but they won’t set you back much more than real leather (keep in mind, real leather is expensive).
The only downside to vegan leather is that it doesn’t improve with age, while real leather does.
However, that’s a small price to pay for an eco-friendly vegan solution.
Animal Leather vs. Faux Leather vs. Vegan Leather
Faux leather has been around since the 1960s.
It is much easier to maintain than real leather and is generally a lot cheaper.
Seeing as how it doesn’t involve animal slaughter, is faux leather a better choice than real leather?
Animal Leather
Animal leather includes animal slaughter, mostly for the sake of making fashionable clothes and accessories.
Think about it; there isn’t too much meat on a fox.
Although our ancestors used to dress up in fur and leather to protect themselves from the cold, it is no longer considered viable.
The number of humans on this planet has grown, and dressing up in animal-based clothing is no longer sustainable.
When it comes to environmental credentials, genuine leather isn’t ideal.
First, the tanning process features toxic chemicals.
Second, countless cows are grown for these purposes, and these animals are known as greenhouse gas emitters.
Plus, cows need a lot of food, land, and water.
So, no, animal leather is not environmentally friendly in any sense.
Faux Leather
So, faux leather is better, right?
Well, not necessarily.
While it is true that faux leather doesn’t involve any animal slaughter, whatsoever, it is made out of plastic.
Plastic, in itself, isn’t biodegradable, and its manufacturing process is highly polluting.
That means that faux leather is damaging our atmosphere and soil, at the very least.
Plus, faux leather is significantly thinner than real leather and not nearly as durable.
Vegan Leather
Vegan leather, on the other hand, is somewhat more expensive than faux leather, although still cheaper than animal leather.
Does this mean that the process of making vegan leather is pollution-free?
Well, it is significantly less polluting than with animal and faux leather.
What is vegan leather made of?
Well, pinatex and apeel are among the most popular examples of vegan leather.
They are made out of pineapple leaves and apple peal, respectively.
Is Fake Leather a New Thing?
It is safe to say that both faux leather and vegan leather are artificial products.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as vegan leather is clearly the smartest leather choice that you can currently make.
But is fake leather, in general, a new thing?
As mentioned, faux leather has been around since the 1960s, so it isn’t a new concept.
That said, vegan (or natural) leather is a fairly recent innovation.
It wasn’t ready to become a thing until the global meat-eating mentality was ready for a change.
Nowadays, many people have embraced veganism as their lifestyle choice.
The fashion industry is ready for vegan leather.
Vegan leather is completely natural, but this isn’t all.
The important part here is that it’s usually made from waste.
For instance, there’s plenty of surplus in the pineapple industry that would end up in landfills.
It’s the vegan fashion industry that swoops in and makes the most out of this surplus.
They extract the fibers, felt them, and process them without using too many chemicals.
Unfortunately, non-biodegradable petroleum and PLA/bio-plastic are still used.
These aren’t completely eco-friendly compounds. However, they are significantly better for the environment than everything used for animal and faux leather.
Vegan Leather Pros and Cons
No product out there is perfect, and vegan leather is no exception.
Although it is considered a much better alternative than animal or faux leather, it still comes with its ups and downs.
Pros
The manufacturing process of vegan leather is significantly eco-friendlier than with animal and faux leather.
From extracting fibers from waste to the actual product, the whole process is much more environmentally conscious.
Vegan leather products also feel better to the touch than faux leather products and are more resilient to burns.
It is also cheaper than animal leather, making it a budget choice when it comes to mid- and high-end clothes.
Cons
Vegan leather doesn’t start looking better as it ages, as the case is with animal leather.
It also doesn’t last as long as faux leather, despite the mentioned durability.
However, it can still last for quite a while.
Vegan leather is significantly more expensive than faux leather, although it does look better.
After all, vegan leather is somewhat of a high-end product.
Products
When it comes to vegan leather, the most popular products that feature this material are jackets and bags.
Jackets
If you want a vegan leather jacket, the choice isn’t impressive.
Although you can find faux leather jackets, the real vegan jackets are tough to find.
The closest you can come to a vegan leather jacket is faux leather jackets.
They might not be eco-friendly, but at least they are cruelty-free. Here are some examples:
BB Dakota Gabrielle Jacket
The asymmetrical design is extremely popular these days.
It comes with zipper closure to add to styling options.
By default, it comes in black, but it is available in other colors.
Noisy May Leather Look Jacket
This faux leather jacket comes with a quilted shoulder panel.
It goes well with distressed denim and sneakers, and the silver hardware looks edgy and cool.
Topshop Rosa Biker Jacket
Edgy, cool, and cute, this faux leather jacket comes in various sizes.
It is also available in petite, which means more styling options.
Keep in mind that you should follow the Topshop’s sizing guide.
Bags
Unlike jackets, leather bags are available in “vegan” out there.
The prices of vegan leather bags are surely lower than the price tags on animal leather products.
Here are some cool models:
MINKA Hobo Bag
You can wear this one crossbody, but it also features an adjustable, removable strap.
It has a smartphone pocket and a zipper pocket.
Very stylish and modern.
LEXI Bucket Bag
This bucket bag has an adjustable pin strap and an adjustable crossbody strap.
A cool feature that you’ll find inside is a removable interior patch.
Heather Black Tote
Although you can wear this prestigious bag formally, it was made for everyday wear, too.
It comes with zipper closure, an inner zipper pocket, a back pocket slot, and an adjustable strap.
Does It Belong in Your Wardrobe?
So, does vegan leather belong in your wardrobe?
This day and age, it most certainly does.
As the least polluting, completely cruelty-free method of making leather products, it is worth the money.
Fashion manufacturers all around the world are taking the eco-friendly road, and vegan fashion is becoming a huge trend.
Look for products made out of bark, cork, apple peel, and pineapple leaves.
Now It's Your Turn
Now I’d like to hear from you:
What do you think about vegan leather?
Are you going to try it out next time you buy leather products?
Did you even know that vegan leather was made out of pineapples?
Either way, leave me a quick comment below to let me know.