Kick Your Leather Habit For Good With These Awesome Alternatives

Many see leather as fashionable and timeless. Many others think it lasts forever and holds up to just about anything. But if you stop and take a moment to think about what leather really is and how it affects our planet, your feelings about this seemingly ubiquitous material just may change.

Leather is the skin of a slaughtered animal. In many cases, these skins come from cows, but skin from goats, sheep, pigs, and even cats and dogs are used to make leather. Oh, and some of the “finest” and softest leather comes from the skin of newborn calves. So, if you’ve ditched veal because you just can’t stomach the thought of eating a baby cow, if you’re buying leather, you are likely still contributing to the cruel exploitation of these innocent babies.

In addition to the animal impact, the leather industry is wreaking havoc on the planet. The leather tanning process, which turns raw skins into usable leather, fills the environment with such nasties as formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, and other known carcinogens. It’s been well-documented that tannery workers, as well as people who live in close proximity to tanning facilities, are riddled with a host of health problems which have been linked to the chemicals used in the leather making process.

If those leather boots you’ve been eyeing up or that designer handbag that you’ve been vying for seem much less appealing to you now, you’re not alone. The thoughts of wearing dead animals’ skin and contributing to destructive environmental practices don’t sit well with many, and as such, consumers are shifting their spending toward leather alternatives. Manufacturers are taking notice and are offering up products made from materials that are cruelty-free and kinder to the environment, which is better for us all. Here are five awesome alternatives that won’t even have you missing the leather:

Vegan Leather

Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Well, it’s not! There are tons of companies now offering cruelty-free leather that looks and feels just like the real thing. Shoes, jackets, belts, handbags, wallets… take your pick and let your inner fashionista shine! Compassionate fashion doesn’t have to mean unfashionable fashion.

Canvas

Canvas is a textile usually made from cotton or hemp and is often produced using sustainable, organic, and/or fair trade practices. Canvas is washable, extremely durable, lightweight, and breathable and when coated and buffed to a shine, can bear a striking resemblance to leather. It makes a great choice for shoes, bags, and wallets.

Cork

If you thought cork was limited to use as a material for bulletin boards and wine stoppers, think again! By slicing cork into paper-thin sheets, it can be made into fabric! Who knew?! It’s naturally sustainable, hypoallergenic, dirt-repellent, and waterproof. Cork is a wonderful and unique textile for upholstery, umbrellas, and other accessories.

Discarded Tires

Yep — you read that right! Old tires are taking up less space in landfills these days because they’re being made into one-of-a-kind, leather-free items like belts, wallets, jewelry, and shoes, among lots of other really awesome things. Cool, huh?!

Other Recycled Materials

Plastic bottles, billboards, fire hoses… you name it, there’s probably a product made from it. Recycled content is a popular material for wallets, bags, belts and other accessories which will be sure to turn heads and have people asking, “What is that made from and where can I get one?!”

What are your favorite leather alternatives?

Image source: SupermarketHQ