WHAT IS VEGAN LEATHER?

Vegan leather is a leather-like material not made with animal skin that can be synthetic, plant-based or lab-grown.

Synthetic leather usually consists of a textile backing coated with two or more synthetic polymer layers, traditionally polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) or polyurethane (PU).

The plant-based versions are similar to their synthetic counterpart, but natural components replace some synthetic materials. For example, part (or all) of the PVC/PU coating can be replaced by biobased products.

Lab-grown vegan leather uses new technologies to create a material by growing its cells in a laboratory, for example, growing fungal cells into mushroom roots (or mycelium) or collagen (the main protein found in leather) from yeast.

WHY IS VEGAN LEATHER BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR?

With the growing focus on sustainability in the fashion industry, the popularity of leather substitutes is rising by the day.

Although a completely different product, vegan leather often imitates the appearance of genuine leather and is the choice for brands that want to keep a leather feel without using animal derivatives. Also materials with a completely different look, such as cork fabric, are generally defined as vegan leather and are becoming very popular in the fashion industry.

IS VEGAN LEATHER REALLY SUSTAINABLE?

Vegan does not always mean sustainable.

Whether vegan leather is sustainable mainly depends on the materials used to manufacture it.

From an environmental point of view, fossil-fuel-based materials are not considered biodegradable, while plant-based materials are (but you need to consider additional materials used in their production, such as adhesives, dyes etc., that may not be).

It is important to note that many modern plant-based faux leathers still feature carbon fossil PU components (in some cases, recycled). However, modern leather alternatives are more sustainable nowadays than in the past.

To verify the material’s sustainability, you should always investigate the composition, the provenance of the raw materials used and the environmental compliance of the fabrication processes.

A trusted manufacturer should be able to give you this information and provide you with one or more certifications of compliance.

IS VEGAN LEATHER USED IN THE SAME WAY AS REAL LEATHER?

Faux leather is a very different material from genuine leather and working with it often requires different expertise.

Although most items can be realised with both materials, sometimes we need slightly different constructions and finishing techniques to make a product in vegan leather instead of genuine leather.

IS VEGAN LEATHER DURABLE?

Every material is different; however, nowadays, modern leather alternatives are more durable than in the past.

We work with manufacturers that produce very durable, high performance and resilient materials.

CAN YOU HELP ME FIND THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR MY DESIGN?

Over the years, The London Leather Workshop has built relationships with sustainable and high-quality vegan leather manufacturers and suppliers. 

We can advise on the best material(s) for your project. We can also help you learn more about certifications while helping in sourcing a suitable material.

Learn more about our material sourcing service.

DO YOU WORK WITH REAL LEATHER AS WELL?

We are not only a vegan leather handbag and accessory manufacturer, we can work with fabric and genuine leather too. 

For more information about our leather goods sampling and manufacturing services, click here.