Vegan or faux leather has been around in different forms over the years, especially as a material for making handbags. While faux leather was once cheap, fragile and full of harmful chemicals, those days are gone.
Technology has come a long way since PVC was first invented, so the market is now filled with a variety of different, cruelty-free ways to accessorize with faux leather. Read on to find out all about, AULOVELY’s roundup of vegan faux leather.
What is a vegetarian bag?
Veggie bags are absolutely free of animal products. This means that every part of them; from the covering material on the outside, like the vegan leather bag, to the glue used is cruelty-free. However, vegan handbags aren’t just free of animal products. Many companies now try to use the most sustainable materials possible and ensure their bags are made by workers who are paid a fair wage.
Of course, this isn’t the case with every company, so it’s worth doing your research and making sure the brands you buy aren’t using vegan labels, while still supporting sweatshop conditions. Eco-friendly accessories are just one way we are moving towards a more sustainable future.
What are vegan handbags made of?
Vegan handbags can be made from a variety of materials. The most common is artificial leather. However, you can also buy vegan bags made from a range of other man-made fabrics, from recycled rubber to waxed cotton. Even cork is used to make environmentally sustainable bags for us to enjoy – guilt-free.
Vegan handbags tend to come in one of two main types. The first is to try to use some form of faux leather to mimic leather bags. These try to look as close to the real thing as possible. Another type of vegan handbag is a bag that is completely detached from the leather look, be it canvas, cork or cotton.
What is vegan leather?
Vegan leather is a replica leather that is not made from animal products. Sometimes it is known that something in this “fold” looks very close to the real thing, which may lead many people to ask – is artificial leather completely vegan? The answer is, yes.
Faux leather is not made from any animal products, no matter how real it looks. My only advice is to always check the item’s label to make sure! Vegan leather is used as a cruelty-free alternative to genuine leather, which many believe, like fur, should not be used in handbags or accessories at all.
How is vegan leather made?
How to make vegan leather is not the easiest question to answer, as there are so many different types to choose from. Traditionally, what you see most often is PVC. Also known as PVC, it is a plastic coated on the back of a polyester fabric layer.
While PVC is vegan, there are other reasons it might not be the best choice. On the one hand, it’s the material that gives vegan leather its cheap reputation. PVC has been so produced that it is essentially a thin layer of plastic with a fabric covering. This doesn’t withstand the wear and tear of everyday life well, so animal leather has always had a reputation for being strong and durable, which can be detrimental to animals all over the world.
However, vegan leather can also be made in other ways. At AULOVELY, our bags are made from vegan leather and made from recycled water bottles. These are spun into yarn to make fabric. We also use vegetable leather, a by-product of vegetable waste, for our premium brands. Not only are these products 100% vegan, but they are also eco-friendly and sustainable.
Is vegan leather environmentally friendly?
At this stage, you may all be wondering; is vegan leather safe for the environment? Unfortunately for PVC, the answer is no. Since PVC is made of plastic, it has the same problems as all other plastic products.
The first issue is the energy needed to produce, let alone chemicals. When making PVC, the process itself releases harmful dioxins. It is also treated with chemicals called phthalates. These phthalates are not only harmful to animals, they are also harmful to humans.
PVC also has the same problems as all other plastics when it comes to being biodegradable. PVC is not biodegradable at all. To make matters worse, PVC clothing and accessories are considered single-use items because they are cheap and fragile. This means they are thrown away at an alarming rate and end up in landfills. When they start to break down slightly in sunlight, they release their own set of chemicals.
But don’t despair. New technologies mean that PVC and alternatives are being manufactured in increasingly sustainable ways. There are also brands that use thicker, more durable PVC, such as the leatherette used on sofas. These alternatives are not biodegradable, but they last as long as genuine leather. However, when it comes to accessories, looking for non-PVC vegan leather is the greenest thing to do.
Can vegans really wear faux leather?
Faux leather fabrics for clothing have been around for years, and some women just can’t live without pleated leggings! However, due to environmental concerns about PVC, how can vegans use it? All types of leather, whether genuine or vegan, have ecological concerns, but ultimately, faux leather does not contain animal products and does not cause cruelty to animals.
As mentioned earlier, brands are doing their best to make faux leather as sustainable as possible and are generating more and more innovative ideas. One of them is kombucha, which is made from the same blend as the increasingly popular tea. The benefit of kombucha leather is that it can be composted after use. Now this is really some eco-leather!
Is vegan leather better than genuine leather?
You may be wondering if vegan leather is the right choice.
Due to the harmful effects of PVC on the environment, and the fact that leather is considered a one-time purchase, some environmentalists still advocate the use of genuine leather. However, vegan leather is still better than genuine leather because it is vegan. The type of PVC you buy also matters. PVC has a bad reputation due to all the flimsy clothing out there. However, if you shop carefully, you will find PVC products that are manufactured to a very high standard and are very durable.
Having said that, genuine leather is still popular because no other material is quite like it, which is why faux leather tries to mimic it. Leather is very expensive to produce, and in addition to the fact that it comes from animals, it comes with a host of environmental concerns.
Tanning leather is the only way to turn it from hide to a usable product. This uses a chemical called chromium, which is very harmful to the environment. The resulting runoff must be treated before it can be released into the water system again, which consumes more energy and water.
As new innovations continue to emerge in the vegan leather industry, it becomes increasingly sustainable to make high-quality leather imitations just like the real thing. Faux leather is also easier to dye because dyes can be added during the actual production process. This means that you can easily get a variety of colors without having to go through the harmful tanning process.
Is vegan leather durable?
Vegan leather, very durable when it’s well crafted instead of single ply PVC. A well-crafted leather jacket will be as good as real leather.
Because it’s not made from animal hide, it doesn’t require regular treatment to keep it soft. Faux leather is also as resistant to cracking as real leather. Of course, you still have to pay attention. For example, if you do own a vegan leather tote, it shouldn’t be hanging from the shoulder strap. You should also avoid placing vegan leather products in direct sunlight, as the heat can affect their quality.
All in all, just take care of your items like any other product. Don’t be rude, but make sure you’re still using them!
Is vegan leather waterproof?
Vegan leather is waterproof, but depending on the product you’re using, some leathers respond better to water.
For example, if you have a vegan leather jacket, it will have an extra waterproof coating. However, many handbags aren’t designed to get wet, so while they’re waterproof, they shouldn’t be taken out in a heavy rain. Remember to always allow faux leather products to air dry. Just like genuine leather, they don’t agree with tumble dryers!
How do you clean vegan leather?
How to clean vegan leather is a question that consumers ask time and time again. The answer is very straightforward, similar to the way the leather is cleaned. You can buy faux leather cleaning wipes, but genuine leather wipes will work just as well in this case. Gently wipe the wipes off the faux leather, paying special attention to any stains.
Another solution on how to clean faux leather is to use a mild detergent. One of the problems with vegan leather and genuine leather is that it absorbs things like ink, oil, and alcohol. So, if you’re wondering how to remove dye stains from faux leather, you can use lukewarm water with a small amount of mild detergent. Wipe the back with an unstained cloth, then a cloth, water only. Repeat one last time with a completely dry cloth.
If you can’t do this immediately after spilling, try applying some talc or cornstarch to the greasy stain. This is a natural faux leather stain remover that you can wipe off when you get the chance.
Another great tip for caring for vegan leather is to avoid heat. If your item does get wet, always air dry it. Never use any form of artificial heat on vegan leather as this will damage it.
Where can I buy vegan leather?
Many companies now sell vegan leather handbags and accessories. It is always recommended that anyone who wants to buy leather to be as environmentally friendly as possible research the material it is made of, the working conditions in which it is produced.
At AULOVELY, each of our vegan leather handbags contains 25 recycled plastic bottles. We specialize in sustainability and zero waste packaging systems. When you carry an AULOVELY handbag, you know that the people who made it are working for fair pay and in good condition.
