Faux Leather Craze Is a Faux Vegan Fix and It’s Not as Sustainable as We Think

The recent faux leather craze many brands are participating in is a faux vegan fix, and it’s not as sustainable as we think.

There isn’t a fashion brand in which faux leather pieces don’t exist. Not long ago, the idea of synthetic leather excited many in the fashion industry, for businesses and consumers alike. The newly revived concept of having a guilt-free version of leather items began to circulate in the market. Why wouldn’t it? You get the leather skirt you wanted without paying the hefty price. Moreover, it’s an “eco-friendly” option. However, it seems that faux leather may not be as sustainable as we thought.

What is faux leather exactly? Vegan leather, or faux leather, is composed of various plastic materials in which the base of the synthetic leather is created. A layer of wax, or polyurethane, is added to give the material its leather-like effect and to ensure a coating with durability. The entire production process relies significantly on the fossil fuel industry.

To make matters worse, the final product of faux leather is not recyclable. Sadly, there is no way to reuse the textile once it has been manufactured into its intended form. As a result, synthetic leather materials linger in landfills, contributing to the ever-growing pollution issue.

Is there an alternative option? For many, refusing to purchase genuine leather pieces is an ethical and moral decision. For others, going the vegan leather route is less harmful to their wallets. In either case, there are options far less harmful to our health and that have significantly less environmental impact.

A great example of a truly sustainable faux leather brand is Fréja New York. Its goal is to create well-crafted, exquisitely designed, sustainable handbags. The indie brand uses its ultrafiber technique to give its handbags a quality leather-like effect. “Our factory specializes in manufacturing waterborne non-woven ultrafiber and ultrasuede. These are premium, advanced materials made with recycled microfiber and resin, using water (instead of DMF) as a solvent,” explained Fréja’s website. Furthermore, well-known brands like Ganni and Stella McCartney use plant-based materials to create sustainable vegan leather, such as mushrooms, pineapples, leftover grapes from wine production, and tomatoes.

Although the fashion industry has a long way to go before it no longer contributes to adverse environmental changes, helping consumers be more aware is a good start. Moreover, acknowledging issues such as harmful materials used in the manufacturing of products is an outstanding achievement.