Let’s get straight to it: vegan leather is just a fancy name for faux leather. Sure, materials like cork, barkcloth, waxed cotton, and paper can technically be considered “vegan” leather. But for most of the fashion industry, there’s no real difference between artificial, faux, fake, and vegan leathers besides the buzzwords. As vegan options have exploded in food and fashion, calling faux leather "vegan" suddenly sounds cool. But here's the kicker: vegan leather isn’t as amazing as it sounds.
For years, vegan (or faux) leather was made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). But PVC is on the decline because it's pretty toxic. Nowadays, most vegan leather is made with polyurethane. Sure, there are other natural materials that can be used, but let’s be real: when something is labeled “vegan leather,” it’s usually PVC or polyurethane.
If you want something that looks like leather but isn’t made from animal skin, then vegan leather is your go-to. But, there’s more to the story.
Vegan leather isn't as eco-friendly as you might think. Surprisingly, real leather from sustainable ranches can be less harmful to the environment than most vegan leathers (except for those rare ones made from cotton or cork). And if you’re not a strict vegan, consider this: most leather hides come from cows raised for beef and milk. The cows aren’t just slaughtered for their hides, so not using the leather could actually be wasteful.
So, is vegan leather better or worse than real leather? That depends on what matters to you. If you're looking for a high-quality leather alternative, check out our collection of waxed canvas bags.
