5 Reasons Vegan Leather is the Future of Fashion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully posted your vegan dinner to Facebook and Instagram.

It feels great, right? Especially when there’s such delicious guilt-free snacks just waiting to be devoured.

And with so many fun and creative culinary options on the menu, we’ve become spoilt for choice.

But what about vegan fashion?

The reality is, animal-derived clothing has devastating effects not just to animals but also for people and our environment.

And they tend to make up the bulk of most of our pre-vegan closets.

So if you’re still on the fence, here’s 5 reasons why it’s time to switch up your wardrobe and embrace your inner-vegan-leather fashionista.

1. People Power

It’s often believed that the leather industry is simply a by-product of the meat industry.

When in reality, it’s a big business of its own.

China alone produces around 2,400 million square feet of animal skin a year.

That’s 8,000,000 football fields!

Consequently, there’s a lot of people power involved to turn these skins into wearable fabric.

And tannery workers, some of which are children, are exposed to poor working conditions and toxic chemicals.

Which not only pollute the surrounding waterways, but also significantly reduce their lifespan.  

Fortunately, though, vegan leather is on the rise. With innovative materials like Pinatex taking centre stage.

Displaying that leftover leaves from the pineapple harvest, can be transformed from waste into durable and flexible vegan leather.

 

Say hello to the creator of Pinatex, Carmen Hijosa. Her brand Ananas Anam have proven that exploitation has no place in the future of fashion.

Instead, this start-up has demonstrated that everyone can get a fair deal for the work they do. Without having to pay the ultimate cost, and sacrifice their health and well-being.

2. Quality and cruelty don’t mix

The sad reality is by 2025 around 430 million cows will need to die to fulfill the demand for leather handbags, wallets and shoes.

Plus, animal leather doesn’t just come from cows. In fact, it comes from the skin of dogs and cats too. 

And because it's almost impossible to trace its origins. We can never know for certain its exact origins. 

On the contrary, vegan leather offers cruelty-free solutions to everything from boots to belts.

It’s water resistant so perfect for puddle splashing, feels good and can stand the test of time.

With vegan products, all fabrics are made without animal products and that’s the way it should be. 

3. Vegan leather is kinder to the environment

In this day and age, it’s hard to ignore the environmental challenges our world faces.

The animal leather industry requires huge amounts of feed, water and fossil fuels. All resources that are slowly but surely depleting.

But synthetic materials aren't always rosy either. Sadly, some animal-leather alternatives are still hazardous to humans. For example, some types still use polyvinyl chloride which can contain chromium 6. A chemical that’s also harmful to the environment.

Fortunately, though, Vegan Style carries some of the best in “green” vegan-leather products. And the brands we carry include biodegradable microfibres, cotton canvas and even sneakers made from recycled plastic bottles.

Much to the joy of turtles far and wide! 

So by making the switch to vegan leather you're investing in a brighter future for yourself and the generations to come.

4. There’s something for everyone

These days vegan leather is the ethical fashionista’s canvas of choice.

It’s boots, sneakers, heels and flats. It’s coats, belts, and wallets.

The list keeps on growing.

Gone are the days when you had to compromise. (Or run the risk of buying the same shoes as your aunty!)

And with millennials driving the rise of veganism, it’s no surprise that brands from Vegetarian Shoes to Will’s of London are providing style to support this positive change.

5. It’s an investment not a cost

The truth is, $15 sneakers cost more than the price on the tag. In 2015, the film True Cost revealed the shocking price of the fast fashion industry.

Here's just 3: 

• The majority of workers get paid $3 a day
• 250,000 Indian cotton farmers have killed themselves in the last 15 years
• Most garment workers can’t afford for their children to live with them

That's right. Someone's always paying for what we may perceive as a bargain. No ethically-made, vegan fashion isn’t cheap. Instead, it’s fair. It’s also fun, sexy and exciting.

All in all, embracing vegan leather is a positive step towards creating a cruelty-free closet.

Now over to you, what’s next on your vegan-fashion list?

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