{"id":53840,"date":"2020-05-11T19:01:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T18:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zine.modalova.com\/zine\/vegan-leather-what-is-this-alternative-that-is-shaking-up-the-fashion-industry\/"},"modified":"2023-08-22T15:17:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T14:17:34","slug":"vegan-leather-what-is-this-alternative-that-is-shaking-up-the-fashion-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uk.modalova.com\/zine\/vegan-leather-what-is-this-alternative-that-is-shaking-up-the-fashion-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan Leather: What is this alternative that is shaking up the fashion industry?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With changing customs and the awakening of collective consciousness, veganism is gaining momentum. In the face of this trend, vegan leather<\/strong> is on the rise. Let’s take a look at this ethical alternative<\/strong> that is shaking up the fashion scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 350,000 searches on Instagram, the hashtag #veganleather is trending! This trend of adopting vegetable leather<\/strong> is gradually taking root in a new model of consumption<\/strong>. One that aims not to buy compulsively, but rather to consciously acquire fashion pieces that align with our own values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, veganism mainly focused on excluding animal products from our diet, but today it goes beyond that. Vegans now want to buy clothes that align with their values, meaning clothes that are part of an ethical, responsible, and cruelty-free approach. On the other hand, brands are increasingly adapting to this green demand and designing innovative and plant-based collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is this new cruelty-free trend? How is it disrupting the fashion industry? We’ll explain everything about vegan leather<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, vegan leather doesn’t exist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s go back to basics, leather<\/strong> is a material obtained through a process of transforming animal skin, called tanning. While leather is the result of a traditional process and historical know-how, it is still criticized. With a constantly evolving textile market, new trends emerge. Publicized under the name vegan leather, the term for this ethical alternative is nonetheless incorrect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, if we want to be impartial, consuming vegan leather is a misconception because, by definition, vegan leather does not exist. According to the Conseil National du Cuir<\/a>, “The use of the word ‘leather’ […] is prohibited in the designation of any material other than that obtained from animal skin through tanning or impregnation that preserves the natural form of the skin fibers.”<\/em> Therefore, terms like vegetable tanning, vegetable leather, or vegan leather are nonsense<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do we mean by vegan leather<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“New leathers”, an overview of these new directions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Starting from the principle that leather is made from animal skin, vegan leather does not exist because, by definition, it excludes any trace of animal presence (are you still following us?). So, by vegan leather, we mean all alternatives<\/strong> that encompass substitute materials for leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can distinguish them into two main categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n