What is Vegan Leather – Everything You Need To Know

Vegan leather is a type of synthetic leather that is made without using any animal properties. Meaning no cow, buffalo, goat, or any other animal’s skin is used during its production. It is made from plant-based or synthetic materials that look and feel like leather but do not involve the life of any dead animal.
Real leather involves extracting the skin of an animal, processing it, and manufacturing it. But the things are different for vegan leather, it uses either plastic-based materials (like PU or PVC) or plant-based materials (like mushrooms, pineapple leaves, apple peels, etc.).

Vegan Leather Types – PVC, PU and Plant-Based

The principle of making vegan leather is without using the skin of any animal. But its production is done in different ways. These 3 types of vegan leather are circulating in the market:

PVC Leather

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is typically made from plastics, and it lacks comfort to wear it. Also, it is not waterproof, but you can find it easily in the market. It is generally made by coating PVC on a fabric base.
It looks a bit average when you wear it, and its texture also deteriorates with time. Also, it is absolutely toxic for the environment due to harmful chemicals being used during the production.

PU Leather

Polyurethane (PU) is also a part of synthetic leather, and it also involves some form of plastic for its production but is better than PVC because it uses a fabric base, but the upper coating is PU which is less toxic than PVC.

It feels soft and has a texture like real leather and a bit eco-friendly as well, but still it is plastic, so it can’t be considered as completely pollution-free material.
If your budget is low and you want a quality product, then it is fine to consider buying.

Plant-Based Vegan Leather

The real eco-friendly and sustainable leather is plant-based. It is made from natural materials and can also be biodegradable.
Plant-based leather is the best, but yes, right now it is a bit expensive because the demand is low and production is expensive. But in the future, it will emerge as the best alternative to real leather due to its less environmental impact.

How is vegan leather made of?

It is generally made in two ways: synthetic and plant-based.

Synthetic Vegan Leather

It is mainly made from PU (Polyurethane) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). Both are forms of plastic that offer the appearance and feel of real leather. The PU type of leather is slightly better because it is less toxic than PVC and is eco-friendly in nature.

The manufacturing process is simple:

1. A fabric base is prepared (like cotton or polyester).
2. A synthetic coating is applied on top, which gives the texture and feel of leather.
3. It is polished and finished so that it looks like real leather.

Plant-Based Vegan Leather

It is a natural and eco-friendly material, there is absolutely no need for plastic materials to produce the leather. Some popular types are:

• Pineapple Leather (Piñatex) – Made from pineapple leaves.
• Mushroom Leather (Mylo) – Made from Fungi (mushroom).
• Apple Leather – Made from Apple waste.
• Cactus Leather – Made from Cactus leaves.

The process of plant-based leather is slightly different, but the basic principle is that natural fibers are pressed, treated, and finished to make leather-like material.

Vegan Leather Vs Real Leather – Which is Best?

If you are thinking about whether to buy real leather or vegan leather, then take a look at this comparison:

If you believe in ethical and eco-friendly products, then vegan leather is definitely the best option. Yes, real leather is slightly better in terms of durability, but nowadays high-quality vegan leather has also started gaining a lot of popularity.

Why is Vegan Leather becoming popular?

Nowadays people have become more conscious about the environment and animals. Now, no one wants to kill a cow or goat for a bag or jacket. That is why brands and companies are also shifting to vegan leather.

Eco-friendly options are available – Vegan leather with plastic materials can make an issue, but plant-based materials are better for the environment.

Affordable – it is much cheaper than real leather.

Fashion brands are using it – Nowadays, big brands are also making products with vegan leather, like Adidas, Nike, H&M, Stella McCartney, etc.

Where will we find vegan leather products?

If you are wondering where to buy vegan leather bags, jackets, or shoes, then nowadays there are many brands and websites available. You can check it online on Amazon, Flipkart, or any fashion website. Some good brands are:

• Stella McCartney – High-end fashion brand that uses only vegan leather.
• Mat & Nat – Famous for bags and accessories.
• Will’s Vegan Store – Best for shoes, bags, and jackets.
• Corkor – Makes cork-based leather products.

Will vegan leather replace real leather in the future?

There are possibilities, but nowadays new plant-based leathers are coming into the spotlight. It is possible that in the future, the demand for real leather may reduce considerably. Government and environmental organizations are also promoting eco-friendly products.

If technology and research keep growing rapidly, then 100% biodegradable and sustainable vegan leather can also emerge, which can easily replace real leather.

History of Vegan Leather

During the 1900s – Humans started looking for an alternative to real leather because real leather was too expensive, and animals were also slaughtered.

1920s-30s – A synthetic leather was made in Germany, which was called “Presstoff”. It was of poor quality, but it worked and gained popularity among the consumers.

1960s-70s – PVC and PU leather introduced. Mostly plastic materials were used, which became a cheap alternative to real leather.

After 2000s – People got caught in the trap of eco-friendly and ethical fashion. But now, the new alternatives have been found in which leather is also being made from plant-based materials.
Today’s time is such that vegan leather has become a major aspect in the fashion industry, and many brands are supporting it.

How Vegan Leather is Made

In case you’re wondering if vegan leather is made only from plastic, then you might be wrong. There are two types of vegan leather:

Synthetic Vegan Leather

Plastic-based materials are used in it:
PU (Polyurethane) Leather – This is considerably eco-friendly in nature and also feels better when you wear or use it.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Leather – Plastic materials are used in this type of leather, which is slightly toxic for the environment.

Plant-Based Vegan Leather

This is a game-changing innovation in the leather industry. It is made from organic and biodegradable materials:

• Piñatex (Pineapple Leather) – Made from pineapple leaves.
• Mushroom Leather (Mylo) – Made from mushroom roots.
• Cactus Leather – Made by processing cactus leaves.
• Apple Leather – Apple waste materials are used.

Plant-based materials are more eco-friendly, but synthetic-based leather materials often tend to be a little toxic for nature.

Benefits of Vegan Leather

As long as there is no benefit in something, consumers will not show their interest in it. Vegan leather also has major roles, which is giving it hype and rapidly gaining popularity.

Animal-Friendly – No goat, cow, buffalo slaughter
Its biggest advantage is that no animal is harmed. For the production of real leather, cow and buffalo skin or hide is used, but vegan leather has a different role for the preparation of leather.

A way to save the environment

Production of real leather increases pollution, chemicals are used, and more water is wasted.
Vegan leather, especially plant-based is more nature-friendly.

Easy Maintenance – No more daily hassles

Real leather has a lot of tantrums, which means you need to moisturize it, polish it, and take care of it regularly. It requires less maintenance as compared to real leather.

Cons of Vegan Leather

Just like everything has some cons, it is not completely perfect as well. Let’s look at its flaws:

Durability is a little less

Real leather can last for 10-20 years, but it lasts for 4-5 years depending on how well you treat them. But yes, high-quality vegan leather is still quite durable.

Synthetic leather is a little problematic for the environment

If you are using PU or PVC leather, it is prepared from plastic materials, which don’t feel like real leather. Also, it causes pollution in the environment.

Luxury feel of real leather is not available

To be honest, the rich and classy feel that real leather gives is something that is lacking in vegan leather. But with ongoing improvements, it is most likely to introduce premium quality vegan leather that beats real leather in terms of luxury and premium appearance.

Where is Vegan Leather being used?

Earlier, people used to think that vegan leather was only for fashion, but now it is being used everywhere. Let’s see in which areas it is making a splash:

Fashion Industry – Jackets, Bags, Shoes, everything!
Nowadays major brands like Nike, Adidas, H&M, and Zara are also introducing vegan leather in their products. The stylish jackets, shoes, bags, and wallets that you see, many of them are made of vegan leather.

Car Interiors – From Benz to Tesla
Luxury car brands like Tesla, BMW, Mercedes have also started using vegan leather seats.

Furniture – Chairs and couches
Home furniture is also being made of vegan leather now. Its use is rapidly increasing in sofas and chairs.

Common Problems of Vegan Leather and their Solution

Nothing is perfect, not even vegan leather. But don’t worry, there is a solution to every problem.

Problem: Durability is a little less

Real leather lasts for 10-20 years, but vegan leather lasts for 4-5 years.

Solution:

• Maintain it well, use a light moisturizer or polish.
• Avoid water, excess water can spoil vegan leather quickly.
• Buy high-quality PU or plant-based leather, don’t go for low-quality products. Vegan leather of good brands is extremely strong and stylish.

Problem: Feels like synthetic

Some people say that vegan leather feels plastic-like, it doesn’t have the luxury feel of real leather.

Solution:

• Try plant-based leather, it feels like real leather.
• Pay attention to the brands, good brands of vegan leather have better finishing and detailing.

Problem: Scratches quickly

Real leather is tough and durable, but it is a little sensitive.

Solution:

• Don’t use it roughly, and if it gets scratched, you can touch it up with leather polish or wax.

Problem: Not available everywhere

Even now, not every shop has vegan leather options, real leather has more stock.

Solution:

• Check online, you will find it on Amazon, Flipkart, and specific vegan brands.
• Keep a list of vegan fashion brands ready so that you know where to buy it from.

Conclusion

Nowadays people are getting attracted towards vegan or faux leather, and many of them are showing their interest in these types of leather and consider it as one of the best sustainable alternatives in the fashion, furniture, and automobile industries.
If you’re the one who is concerned about the environmental impact, then you must go for plant-based vegan leather instead of PVC leather.