Veganism definitely has been a buzzword for the past couple of years. A study conducted by Oxford University shows that meat-eaters are responsible for over twice as much greenhouse gases compared to vegans. Not to mention animal welfare.
But, while we know about vegan diets, how and when can we avoid animal products such as leather and fur in our clothing? If you aren’t ready to adopt a fully vegan lifestyle, another way you can contribute to reducing your carbon footprint is by buying vegan fashion and beauty.
At SCOON, we are always searching for new and innovative brands that make a positive impact. Let us introduce you to some of our favourite vegan brands that work with leather alternatives like pineapple leaves, apple waste and corn waste. We bet you won’t even notice it.
Hozen uses materials such as biopolyoil leather and suede for their bags. It is a new artificially created grain-based 'leather' that provides better scratch resistance and has a softer touch than current synthetic leather fabrics made with petroleum-derived chemicals. Also, the brand has been using Piñatex®, which is created out of fibres of pineapple leaves and a natural, sustainably-sourced, cruelty-free material. It’s a by-product of agriculture and creates an additional income for farmers.
Another really cool material is Apple Leather, used by Komrads for its sneakers. The Apple Eco-leather is produced using waste from the apple juice industry, which is then developed into a cellulose-based material with at least 50% of recycled apple.
To lower its carbon footprint and support a vegan lifestyle, Kings Of Indigo offers PETA approved vegan denim. The brand uses vegan patches made from recycled polyester and new polyester.
VEJA has also introduced vegan sneakers made out of corn waste leather, a biodegradable material made from waxed canvas with 50% corn waste leftover from the food industry.