How did wearing and carrying the remains of animals turn from an act of survivalism into a fashion statement? This recognition is one aspect that led to the concept of vegan products, especially with vegan leather.
Plant-based living is taking the world by storm, and for a good reason. In a nutshell, veganism is the concept of not using any products derived from any animal, for the sake of our health, being cruelty-free, supporting the planet, and primarily, each other.
It's more than choosing to omit animal products from the apparent meat and dairy industry. This lifestyle expands into beauty and cleansing products, to furniture clothing, shoes, and accessories. Each step in this direction makes much more of a positive impact than most of us realize.
One of these incredible products is vegan leather. In 2018 the global leather goods market was valued at a 414 billion industry and expected to continue to rise in the name of comfort, specifically concerning shoes.
Types of vegan leathers:
- Paper
- Hemp
- Cork
- Mushrooms
- Waxed Cotton
- Coolstone (slatestone)
- Tree Bark
- Apples
- Pineapple bush
- Recycled Rubber
- Agave Plant
- Banana tree, rain tree, and lotus leaves
- Coffee Leather
- Stinging Nettle Plants
In today's brilliant world of technology, there are always options and new solutions, so let's take a look into the primary leather market, SHOES.
Are Vegan Leather Products Better Than Traditional Leather?
This is the most crucial question when it comes to comparing vegan leather & real leather products. While less than 10 years ago, the shoe industry lead the demand for leather at just over 50%, this has drastically changed recently and continues to decline.
Brands like Teresa's Costa's Collection of cruelty-free Vegan Leather Shoes are making multiple positive impacts for the planet. Not only does she use vegan leather of top quality, but 5% profit goes directly to animal charities such as Peta, Farm Sanctuary & North Shore Animal League. Teresa is also hoping to open a new line with apple leather in the future!
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Fashion
More companies are producing clothing articles, shoes, and accessories from vegan leather and other cruelty-free materials. The vegan fashion industry is on the rise, not only for the sake of animals and the planet but also for the potential in cutting-edge styles and methods.
Vegan leather is thinner than real leather, which gives it an edge when it comes to style, and comfort, as it is much more lightweight. This feature makes fabric easier to stitch, unlike real leather, which is known to be quite hard to work with. Better stitching and durable material quality make for a more enduring and eco-friendly product with proper care.
Quality
Vegan leather receives such varied opinions, but it is because it is available in many different quality standards. Therefore, it is imperative to do the research to ensure the vegan leather you are purchasing is of higher quality.
Appearance
When it comes to looks, any product made from good quality vegan leather is quite hard to differentiate from real leather products. However, when it comes to the finished product in the aging process, real leather looks much better after it has aged, due to the formation of the patina.
Animal Cruelty
When it comes to the sources of raw materials, there is no doubt that vegan leather is much better than real leather. The process of making vegan leather not only spares animals but lowers the demands of the environment.
There are so many positive benefits for the ecosystem as long as it's operated in a balanced manner. The continual evolution of this process and using a variety of natural materials can considerably lighten our footprint on the planet.
So whether it's for the animals, for the planet, or even just for your wallet, there are many gains to turning away from the traditional leather. It is a new day and age, and although it is only common decency to use every piece of an animal that is sacrificed, we no longer have to create and support a demand for it.
