Various materials can be used to create vegan belts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more popular materials used.
Paper
Believe it or not, paper is an excellent alternative to leather. Of course, since the “fabric” used is paper, it’s not the most durable leather alternative option, but it’s more durable than you think.
So how does the creation of Kraft paper compare to other paper production methods? First and foremost, kraft paper is stronger. This is because of its high sulfur ratio and reduced lignin content. The reduced lignin leaves more cellulose which gives the paper its durable characteristics. It also doesn’t involve extensive bleaching as standard paper manufacturing does. Bleaching decreases the strength of the paper. An example of its incredible durability can be seen in our Debut Paper Backpack.
These belts are extremely thin and light. In addition, it is 100% recyclable and uses otherwise discarded materials to produce new products.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane or PU is a common type of vegan leather which uses a combination of synthetic and natural ingredients. Polyurethane can look highly similar to genuine leather, making it a great alternative aesthetically.
Polyurethane is a solid choice because it uses fewer resources than leather to make it more sustainable. Leather has to be tanned, which requires the use of a lot of chemicals. Additionally, leather causes air pollution during the preparation to tan it.
Here at Doshi, we use Microfiber PU as our vegan leather. Microfiber is the key term as Microfiber-based vegan leather is the highest grade of synthetic leather commercially available in the market today.
Microfiber vegan leather consists of two parts.
Microfiber base – The microfiber base is the most important part of the material. The microfiber is unlike clothing in that it is non-woven. Instead of being woven like cloth, the microfibers are made to coagulate in three dimensions so that they mimic the structure of skin. The resulting material is soft, supple, breathable, and much more durable than the any alternative that we have tested.
Polyurethane top coat – The polyurethane on top helps create different looks, textures, and feels. In our materials, the adhesion to the microfiber base layer is extremely strong.
The resulting material is generally extremely durable and often outperforms leather in a variety of tests.
Not only does it use fewer resources than leather, but polyurethane products also cost less than genuine leather because it’s easier to manufacture and easier to maintain; polyurethane doesn’t dry out over time and doesn’t absorb water, which makes it easy to clean.
Cork
Cork is one of the alternatives that best mimics leather in function and form.
Cork leather is made from the bark of Cork Oaks. These Oaks grow in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Cork trees must be at least 25 years old before the bark can be harvested. When done expertly, harvesting the cork from the tree does not harm it. Actually, the removal of the bark helps with regeneration and extends the life of a tree. The oak will produce cork for anywhere from two to five hundred years.
In addition, the production process of cork sheets is pretty straightforward. Cork planks are left to dry for about six months to get them flat and improve their quality. This results in cork planks that are then treated with fungicide and heated water to remove dirt and make the materials flexible. The cork is then pressed into blocks that are later sliced into thin sheets to create cork products.
Leather has a lot of heavy chemical processing; cork production is almost entirely chemical-free.
Cork is an easily recycled, completely natural product. It comes from cork oak trees harvested every nine years and has a life span of over two hundred years. This makes it a sustainable material to use for designer belts for vegans.
Wrapping Up
Here on the Doshi Blog, we want to encourage and support people in buying and wearing vegan and ethical products.
Vegan products are just as timeless as the conventional version and have price advantages. When you compare vegan designer belts to ones made of genuine leather, you’ll often find that the vegan options are cheaper with no dip in quality and a huge bonus in moral integrity. For these reasons, vegan accessories/products make great alternatives!
Are you interested in getting vegan accessories to finish the look? We offer a variety of handmade designer vegan options. In addition, you can check out our women’s vegan belts and our men’s vegan belts.
