For the betterment of our planet, sustainability and responsible fashion have been a worldwide agenda since the past few years. The current pandemic has amplified the issue of not using eco-friendly choices and made imaginative business people and consumers more conscientious about their daily choices.

Vegan is the new ‘it word’ in the fashion industry as the hunger for sustainable fashion increases with each passing day. What is Vegan leather? Vegan leather is produced as polyurethane, a polymer that can be customised according to the whims and fancies of a designer. It is made out of waste products like pineapple leaves, cork, apple peels, other fruit waste, and recycled plastic & is also popularly known as ethical leather.

On the contrary, animal leather is not only related to cow skin but also a wide range of other creatures like pigs, goats, sheep, crocodiles, snakes, stingrays, seals, emus, deer, fish, kangaroos, horses, cats and dogs. All these poor creatures are mercilessly slaughtered by us humans for our selfish want of their animal skin. Even baby animals don't get spared by the leather industry as the skins of calves and lambs are considered particularly valuable because of their softness.

Renowned designers like Stella McCartney feature products made from vegan leather sources in their collection. From their jackets to dresses, there’s a vegan leather version in every style and colour. Similarly, other famous brands are also producing vegan products. For instance, Hugo Boss has a range of vegan shoes, and H&M’s Conscious Exclusive collection is animal and eco friendly.

The saga of destruction doesn’t end here. When the animal skin is taken out, it is safeguarded through a cycle called 'tanning' which utilises solid synthetic compounds to keep the skin from breaking down. And while animals pay a heavy price for their existence, the tanning cycle can be poisonous to individuals and the climate as well in terms of hazardous toxins released during the process.

The impact of animal leather's damaging tendency on the Earth has consistently been suspected as the main supporter of an Earth-wide temperature boost, water shortage and asset exhaustion, among other harmful components. What's more, we can surely understand that our decision to use artificial leather contributes far less of an effect.

Choose your leather types wisely.

Let’s talk about the texture and the style of both vegan and animal leather. Vegan leather comes in a few distinct structures and quality, so some are more 'calfskin like' than others. Generally, there isn't that much of a difference in the texture of genuine calfskin and vegan leather. Although, as vegan leather is synthetic, it doesn't shape a patina like natural calfskin does when maturing and is significantly less breathable as the pores that are imprinted onto the outside of the bonded leather are counterfeit.

Additionally, quality and sturdiness are significantly interesting points when contrasting vegan leather and genuine leather. Vegan leather is more slender than the genuine leather and is considerably more lightweight which is extraordinary for design as it makes it conceivably simpler to work with. However, this quality makes it less durable than genuine calfskin. Real, good quality leather can last decades when cared for, while you may just get a year or so out of a couple of shoes produced using vegan leather. This is a significant factor when settling on vegan leather. On the other hand, genuine leather ages over the long haul and it’s structure is like a patina, which is considered to add character to leathered goods.

Vegan leather can come in various qualities and likewise with genuine leather, the higher the quality, the more it will last. It is relatively less expensive and of a lower quality to genuine leather when it comes to durability. Vegan leather is eventually considerably less solid than genuine leather and will be thinner in general, so it's normal for it to tear or scrape after some time if not taken care of.

The artistry of goods made from leather sources is an exceptionally gifted work and bespoke leather items can be relatively more expensive than vegan leatherette. Producers can set these costs since these goods are viewed as both high in quality and exceptionally long-lasting products.

It is imperative to reinvent fashion and switch to ethical leather. Your choices have a huge impact on the welfare of animals as well as the environment. According to the previous year’s sources, artificial leather types are any day more eco and animal friendly. As aware buyers, we're certain you can acknowledge how these discoveries can leave an impact on you. Your decisions might not exclusively bring karma your way. However, they'll keep on leaving a less critical eco-impression on the world for quite a long time to come.