Vegan Leather

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I have the opportunity to buy some vegan leather products. Shoes & a purse. Isn't Vegan just another word for fake?

How do you feel or what are your thoughts on vegan products.

7 years ago

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Anonymous

It is another word for fake, you're right. I sell some products that are labelled vegan leather - and it's done as a marketing tool: to appeal to those opposed to leather products and to present a synthetic as more appealing than the word "vinyl" or "plastic". Not any more interesting than that, I'm afraid. There are a couple of very well known bag brands - both Canadian - (Pixie Mood and Matt & Natt) that have built their entire business on this premise. I don't personally care one way or another - it's just a word, albeit somewhat meaningless.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I buy vegan leather because a) I’m afraid of PETA who attack on the streets here b) a lot of vegans sell it, and there are a lot of vegans here and c) it is way way lighter than leather.

Can’t stand it when a bag is heavy empty!

7 years ago

Chris987

Veteran

Yup it’s fake leather. Fake leather has come a LONG way in quality from the days of Naugahyde and “rich Corinthian leather” in car seats but it’s still not the same thing.

7 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Vegan leather sounds yuppie, whereas pleather and plastic do not. I am equally amused and frustrated when designers charge as much for these materials as they do for leather, given th disparity between the two materials.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I went looking for a good leather purse recently and saw that vegan leather term every where.
Say what? Can’t belive marketing gimmicks anymore. Call it what it is....... genuine naugahyde- lol.
If you are a vegan buy a nice cloth purse ( eg Vera Bradley) otherwise you are getting plastic / vinyl no matter whose designer’s name is on it.
I understand PETA but vinyl does not do much for environment. In the 25 years I have my leather purse- how many vegan leather purses go in the landfill that will still be there 1000 years from now?

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Vegan leather is pleather, which is petrochemical based fake leather. I understand why people advocate non leather goods, but agree that petrochemicals aren't a good solution. There are too many funky, cool, stylish, and even pretty products out there made from recycled billboard fabric, seat belts, rice bags, old tires, hemp, jute, cotton, and even juice pouches

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

It is rebranding, but I think it fills a need.

I’m hesitant to dictate to others what material or materials their purse may be made of.

7 years ago

jussie

Veteran

It actually bothers me.
I completely understand some people want to avoid animal products, I’m not knocking that at all.
Synthetic or man-made would be better terms. Not as tacky sounding as plastic and not as absurd as marketing it as vegan and slapping a higher price tag on it.

7 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes I think marketing speak and when I see it I say "fake" to myself. I think these things just go around. When I was a young student and just qualified I didn't feel I could afford actual leather bags and probably didn't care. I didn't buy bags for any snob value but also didn't think much about the environment. I wasn't vegetarian and still am not. Mum probably bought me my first leather bag when I was around 30. It was red and I still have it. She bought me a black one too, which wore out. Since then I have bought some leather and some synthetic. As not a "bag person" the function is more important to me than anything. I feel a bit uneasy about either! Leather needs a lot of processing and is bad for the environment as well as the animals and sometimes the workers ( as per the book I read "To Die For- is Fashion Wearing out the World?"). Synthetic leather ( aka vinyl aka pleather aka leatherette aka vegan leather) is also bad for the environment! So why make it sound virtuous by labelling it "vegan"? You're not hurting any animals but you're contributing to climate change?
So the best thing I personally feel I can do is to not buy often, and wear well. I have the same dilemma with shoes.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Apparently my comment came across badly to many. I did not mean to come off virtuous or snobby or fiercely judgmental.
My comment was based on my life experience with vinyl and my feelings regarding marketing techniques and was not meant to come across hurtful or judging. I apologize if it did.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Efbgen, I did not take your comment that way at all. I agree, though, that plastic doesn’t degrade in the long term. Cloth is a smart substitute. I’m not a vegan, so I look for leather, because for shoes, it breathes, for belts, it tends not to tear, and for bags, it lasts a long long time. I have some bags that I’ve had for 35 years. I’m not kidding. I have a big honking phone, so they’re a little too small now for every day use, but they’re in great condition, and I used them for years and years.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

efbgen STAND YOUR GROUND. If you meant to say something say it. Don't let others bully you into apologizing. It is not as if we are talking about lives or animals we are talking about plastic bags

7 years ago

Helena

Veteran

efbgen, your comment didn't sound that way to me at all, either.

I agree with the general comments, that while this may indeed be a nice option for vegans who want the look of leather without the actual leather, to call it 'vegan leather' is re-branding in my eyes. Sort of like how my car is a 'cross-over SUV' rather than a station wagon, or veggies and dip are now 'crudites'.

Come to think of it, my dad's old green-machine 'cross-over SUV' had green 'vegan leather' seats in it that used to burn our bottoms when they got hot in the summertime lol

I do have a few 'vegan leather' pieces in my closet (a blush moto and a black vest/gilet thingy), and to me they can look almost as good as the real thing, if the styling and price is right.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Lol- LeDonna- thank you - but I did not back down from my opinion ( it stands on both vinyl and marketing) but rather apologized for my strong opinion possibly offending others.
My 90 yr old mom would wish me to be more “diplomatic “.
We are on a blog with people from all over the world who come with all kinds of different experiences.
I do not feel bullied. Empathy, kindness and being respectful goes along way and apologizing is just one of my methods to show that, especially if there is a possibility I was being less than diplomatic.
Thank you..... and if I be less than diplomatic once again- oh boy- If You are that protective of a stranger- that baby of your will be just great lol.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Hey all thank you for the feedback I love the few leather bags that I carry and the cloth I think I'll stick with those for now.

efbgen I am a Taurus we are fiercely loyal even to new to us people. I would agree with your statement about my daughter. I am her champion.

7 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

One thing- I agree with Torontogirl that the appearance and quality of synthetic leather has got way way better. It used to look quite cheap and plasticy but now some items can look like they are actual leather particularly some moto jackets ( in my somewhat uninformed opinion.) Maybe some better fashionistas than me would think you can still tell.
I feel, like gradfashionista, that those items should not cost as much as leather? And like jussie, that if you're just using the marketing to slap a higher price on it, that that's wrong! I am very wary of marketing like that and try hard not to be taken in by it. When one of my girls did Media Studies at high school she came home and said I was some sort of customer that marketers didn't like as I didn't spend enough and was a "traditionalist" or something. She had thought about doing a communications degree but soon after that came home and said "I'm finding I'm not enjoying my Media Studies much but I'm loving my biology and chemistry". We said hmm, perhaps a change of plan. She was 16. Now 27 she did a science degree and is now a science technician in a high school!

7 years ago

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