Vegan Leather: A Ray of Hope for the Fashion Leather Industry

The newest buzzword for the fashion industry has to be “vegan”. There is a vegan version of everything these days- be it food, clothing or decor! 

Out of a vast number of vegan materials that have been developed in the market, plant-based leather is something that intrigues me the most. The range of leather one can obtain from a plant was purely shocking to me when I first heard of it. Vegan Leather is obtained from plants like cactus, bananas, pineapples, cork, and corn. The concept of Vegan Leather was brought to life by entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, who were the first to develop leather out of the cactus plant. Given sustainability, these mediums are soon going to be an integral part of the fashion industry. The boom in slow-fashion awareness has caused the masses to look into the effects of their consumption of limited resources on the environment. 

The Difference between Faux Leather and Vegan Leather

A commonly made mistake is assuming that vegan leather and faux leather are the same materials. 

The word ‘Faux’ literally means artificial or fake. When we say a certain product is made in faux leather, it does not necessarily mean that the product is eco-friendly or even sustainable for that matter. Not using animal skin for making leather does not imply that the material developed is complimenting the environment or saving it from more harm. 

Faux Leather is made from a plastic base and is then treated with wax, dye, or polyurethane to create the color and texture. Does that sound eco-friendly to you? I didn’t think so. 

Hence, although faux leather prevents the use of animal skin, it also promotes the generation of plastic waste and ultimately has a negative impact on the environment. 

On the other hand, ‘Vegan’ literally means plant-based. When a product is made using vegan leather, the used leather must be derived from a plant source. This ensures that no damage is done to the environment while deriving the raw material and even after the product ends up in a landfill. 

Plant-derived leather can be obtained through different plant sources like cactus, banana, cork, hemp, pineapple leaves, mushrooms, corn and apple peels. One thing for sure is that vegan leather is a revolutionary creation for the forthcoming years in fashion development. The production of plan-based leather is definitely more expensive than faux leather but it is imperative for it to be incorporated into the assembly line of raw materials used in the industry. 

Taking Care of Vegan Leather

A majority of vegan leather goods are waterproof or water resistant by default and don’t require special cleaning products. However, if you absolutely had to clean them, it’s advisable to use a mild detergent mixed with warm water or eucalyptus oil for best results. 

Don’t-

1. Use harsh chemicals like bleach on the surface

2. Expose the product to harsh sun for too long

3. Scrub the surface of the product

4. Overfill in case of bags and wallets

5. Stack products on top of each other

Do-

1. Store goods in a dust bag

2. Store in a safe, dry environment

3. Rotate bags to prolong their life

4. Clean the hardware such as zippers, closures.

How to get rid of wrinkles-

Vegan leather may develop wrinkles while stacking and shipping. But don’t worry, I’ve got the perfect solution for you! 

The best way to get wrinkles out of your vegan leather product is by ironing it on a flat surface. To avoid a mishap, be sure to cover the product with a t-shirt to create a barrier from the direct heat of the iron. Use the iron on the lowest temperature possible and don’t forget to do a patch test first.

Another way to do this without the fire hazard is to lay the product flat on a plain surface and apply weight on it by books or any other medium-heavy material.

Lastly, if the product is only lightly creased, you may attempt to get it out by hanging the product in your bathroom and running a nice hot shower for yourself. 

Why Vegan?

Apart from the very obvious fact that vegan leather is far more sustainable than animal or synthetic leather, it is also evident that vegan leather is highly durable with a lifespan of up to 10 years or more. 

In the present market, vegan leather options are much more affordable than actual leather and come with proof of quality. You can be sure that only premium-quality hardware has been used to make the product. 

Switching to vegan leather may not be your first choice but it is the best choice you can make for yourself, your style statement and the environment. 

Earth Saakhya is a vegan leather brand that makes high-quality leather bags out of banana, cork, cactus and hemp fibre. You can check out their products here on Not Just Trivia.