Vegan Leather: Better Than Animal Leather?
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- A deep dive into vegan leather and whether or not this is a good animal leather alternative: gentl.mn/is-vegan-leather-better
#veganleather #leatheralternative #notsponsored
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→ What Makes Our Gloves Special?: gentl.mn/fort-belvedere-glove...
→ Does "Made In" Matter?: gentl.mn/countries-of-origin
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→ Script: E.J. Daniels & Sven Raphael Schneider
→ Camera: Chris Dummer
→ Editing: Jonathan Oster
→ Pellevegetale
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00:00 Vegan Leather Introduction
The movement for more sustainable living has skyrocketed in popularity in the last decade or two, and clothing is no exempt. Hence, vegan leather is created, but how good is it to the environment, really?
Traditional leather from animals is omnipresent in the menswear space. Still, it also has a massive impact environmentally, and there have been lots of voices questioning whether it's ethical to have real leather.
01:10 What is Leather?
It's probably one of the oldest clothing materials known to man and dates back over 400 thousand years. Basically, it is a treated hide, which means a large skin, or a skin, which means small skin, that is tanned with tannins so it won't rot, is flexible, and can be made into shoes, accessories, and clothing.
01:55 What is Vegan Leather?
It is a much more recent invention and has been around for a little over a century. Well, that's actually a bit tricky because what it actually is and is not is disputed.
03:42 How is Animal Leather Made?
Worldwide, over a billion animals are killed each year that are part of leather production. This includes most animals that are primarily there for meat production, such as cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. In this large case, leather is just a byproduct of meat production.
How is Vegan Leather Made?
A better idea of the impact is of real leather on the planet, what's that like with vegan leather?
08:04 PVC-based Leather Production
08:42 PU-based Leather Production
09:31 What's the Environmental Impact of Vegan Leather?
Obviously, they could start as plastic. And plastic is typically made by burning fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ashes. Plastic is also notorious for taking hundreds to thousands of years to degrade.
13:06 Animal Leather Material vs. Vegan Leather Material
Now that you have a better understanding of how vegan leather is made and what the environmental impact is, let's look at the material and see how it feels, how it looks, and how it performs.
19:19 Conclusion
If we compare a cheap animal hide that is pigment-dyed and vegan leather, we think the comparison is more even, and we may even prefer vegan leather because of its lower environmental impact. Fortunately, We're not in a position where we have to resort to cheap animal hides, so we just stick with quality animal-based leathers.
Kering Environmental Loss and Protection Study: ://www.bomler.com/blog/how-to-source-sustainable-leather
Higg Material Sustainability Index: www.bomler.com/blog/how-to-source-sustainable-leather
20:16 Outfit Rundown - Навчання та стиль
I'm 62, and I still use the same grey leather wallet I got for my 17th birthday. That's almost three-quarters of my life. My wallet was stolen in New York City in 1999 and then some kind soul found it and dropped it in a mailbox. It arrived (in a USPS envelope) at my home in Toronto the day after I got back. I couldn't possibly part with it now.
what brand is that wallet? I am very curious
@@northernpomeranian
There's no label on the wallet.
When my father was restoring a Model T, about 10 years ago, we learned that Leatherette, Pleather, and Leatherene were brand names for imitation leather. It's kind of like how "Kleenex" has become synonymous with tissues!
As a vegan and as an environmental science student, I personally prefer to purchase most everything secondhand, and don’t have a problem using leather products I get as hand-me-downs or at thrift stores. Vegan or not, I think this video should make us be more aware as consumers - do your research, vote with your dollar, quality>quantity, buy used instead of new. Thanks for covering the subject so fairly, gentlemen!
Good point!
Yes. I'm also a vegan, but still use the leather products I acquired before going vegan. Perhaps I'll replace them when they get worn out
You’re that type of person destroying everything to impress people with your “bravery”
@@FranchiseSIX5Animals are not supposed to be over-populated. These animals are now invading residents home and eating more humans because folks like you and peta.
@@FranchiseSIX5 Destroying what?
I prefer using leather products as if taken care of they last forever. There are still suitcases made of leather at the bottom of the ocean in the wreckage of the Titanic that survive. As the meat industry is not likely to go anywhere I try to follow the old believe of not wasting any part of it.
There are also many leather shoes down there.
I can only imagine how long real leather shoes last, i mean, if they have lasted that long in salt water, they may las forever
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. Be vegan
@@bvegannow1936 yes. Or watch "Dominion (2018)" on UA-cam
@@CrystalRuizEnriquez It's a bit deceptive comparing materials from ship wrecks. Part of the problem there is that many organic materials will begin to quickly breakdown when taken out of the deep ocean environment and exposed to air. It is more the environmental conditions, in particular the cold which inhibits the microbes that break down organic materials, than the durability of the materials themselves.
But again when it comes to leather, it's all about how well you take care of it that determines how long it lasts.
@@SageBlackthorn you're probably right, i just figured saltwater would decompose it a bit faster, but it's probably being conserved better lol. And yeah, it does last longer if it's properly taken care of but it last way longer than other materials like plastic
I think the bigger picture is important when considering "going green", buying one pair of high quality leather shoes that lasts decades is definitely better for the environment than buying a new pair of cheap shoes every few years, and there are definitely ways to do leather more sustainably. I think a lot of the vegan trending is mostly companies capitalizing on the idea that people will willingly buy a lower quality product that won't last as long as they think they're doing good. Like all of the "health oriented" products that are just as processed and high in sugar as soda or candy.
Very true, not sure about the rest of the world but here in the UK the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is used quite often, and they're ranked in order of imporance, if you can reduce your consumption of something then do that, like neglecting to use a plastic bag or a straw, if you can't do that then make efforts to reuse what you have, like reusing shopping bags and other items, if that's not possible then make efforts to recycle and campaign for your local government to support recycling collections.
I try and live by that method, using reusable shopping bags, cycling when trips are short instead of using a car, and buying long lasting clothing instead of fast fashion. I especially don't like the modern trend of smart watches or very low quality Primark or Ali-express cheap fashion watches, too much waste and not enough longevity to them, prefer to collect vintage ones which still work perfectly.
@@G1NZOU I absolutely agree and strive to do the same. When it comes to leather products I think a very viable option is thrifting, since it's such a long lasting material when properly cared for!
@@lauraguglielmo totally agree, second hand lether is more sustainable than new lether or new vegan lether any day if the week
my oldest pair of shoes were made in the 1920's (early 1920's most likely). If they fit me, the would be wearable with minimal attention from a cobbler. The oldest pair I have in regular rotation are from the early 60's. They've recently been recrafted and will easily outlast me.
Will vegan leather ever achieve that level of durability?
@@lauraguglielmo I’m a big time thrifter! Once in a while I’ll find a pair of beautiful shoes that won’t come with the hefty price. My mentality is not to find good finds, rather they find me.
Vegan here.
Great video, Raphael. You weren't singing vegan leather's praises, nor were you discounting it entirely. It was an honest assessment: you weighed up the pros and cons of vegan leather. I understand you prefer animal leathers (at least high-quality leathers; you get what you pay for, after all), but you acknowledged that vegan leathers have improved greatly over time and didn't discount their potential to improve even further.
I'm still going to purchase vegan leathers, obviously, but this video was very fairly researched and presented.
P.S. should Fort Belvedere find a suitable vegan leather for their gloves, I'll be first in line to buy some pairs :)
Something I want to know is why any vegan against the use of leather would still want to wear stuff that LOOKS like animal skin? To passerby and ignorant people it says you enjoy wearing animal skin, facsimile or not, and therefore support its use.
@@Thouhand. I understand the confusion. However, I believe it's based on aesthetics and morality/philosophy (primarily focused on the latter).
I assume people who wear animal leathers don't wear leather because they enjoy wearing the hides of animals (or the killing of animals that's required to acquire it [apologies for being so morbid]); they wear it because it looks nice.
In this circumstance, since veganism is a moral philosophy, the goal is to create goods that can replicate (well or otherwise) products that utilise animal by-products with plant-based materials (hence reducing animal suffering [again, apologies]). Obviously, as Raphael explained, we're not there yet to replicate the more high-end leathers. However, improvements can be (and have been) made.
I hope I've explained this well. Should you have any follow-up questions, I'm happy to answer :)
@@Thouhand. leather products don’t look like animal skin. Ask a child what it thinks leather is made of and it will be shocked that it’s animal skin.
Of course they don’t look like animal skin because animal skin is usually covered in hair which has to be removed in order to convert the hide into leather
@@Thouhand. leather doesnt look like animal skin though
I’ve been looking forward to this video for a few days
Some have waited for years. I remember one guy for a while leaving a comment under every video asking for it.
Great video. I still prefer on real leather.
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. Be vegan.
@@bvegannow1936 stop trying to force your lifestyle on others, people like meat, get over it
I think it interesting that the anglophone world uses the term „vegan leather“ while here in Germany we still call it „Kunstleder“ or in English „artificial leather“, because it was artificially made.
I personally also prefer the term artificial leather, because it is more strait to the point. However in comparison with real leather, artificial leather is like a mini van compared to a Mercedes Benz 300 SL.
I'm vegan but I use leather. Some of these comments are really dumb. They can't make a video about current ideas because you won't even try a different option out if an outdated principle? You don't have to.
Someone said they didn't want "green" content, well you knew what the video was about, by the title, you could've skipped it.
Vegan leather isn't better than genuine leather as of right now, and nobody is making you use it, he was simply explaining what it was and its capabilities, uses, description, etc do that you could be informed about it. As a gentlemen's fashion channel, this is important. This is the same as him explaining about silk and silk alternatives. Or any other fabric or material.
He wasn't asking you to become vegan, it even vegetarian, not even to reduce your meat intake, he was explaining a material bring used in modern times, to substitute a different one.
For men, keeping up with actual fashion, some of y'all seem do closed minded and ignorant.
This video was quite informative and very well done.
@@fwstrust2844 you are correct. I do follow a vegan diet, but not a vegan lifestyle. I do try to do what is most sustainable though. At the end of the day it's about trying, it may be for health, ethics or even environmental reasons.
Personally, to me, it's a little about all three, i, personally use leather because it will last way beyond anything plastic and even some fabrics, just for that reason. I wouldn't wear a fur, for ethical reasons but i west leather for environmental reasons. But not all leathers either lol.
It's really cool about your shoes, it's great that they still look and feel like they originally did.
A lot of these commenters are the biggest hypocrites; saying that vegans get easily triggered, that it's all just a fad, but when problems regarding the environment, ethics, etc. get brought up then they lose their minds. Is it that hard to see both sides of the coin? To respectfully engage in a conversation?
I'm a vegetarian, but I don't go around yelling at people for eating meat, nor for wearing leather. I just think that people shouldn't be blissfully ignorant of their lifestyle. I didn't care much about eating meat because I thought it was a necessary evil, but I tried out the vegetarian diet/lifestyle and I couldn't be happier.
Also, I can't wait for vegan leathers to actually get good and affordable. In the meantime, I'll be wearing leather shoes because currently it looks like the best quantitative solution for the environment.
@@tomsd.pinkis3118 very true. They're acting like he said, stop using leather and use faux leather because we say so.
I also don't understand why they can see both sides, at the very least just to be able to discuss it.
I also wear leather because l, as of right now, it's more sustainable than plastic. Not only is it not waste, it lasts for a long time and even though it's more expensive, in the long run it's worth the money.
@@groundhog5923 oh, you're so funny (sarcasm)
Vegans can use leather they had before they went vegan, but buying new leather needlessly isn't vegan.
Good video and wonderful to see someone approaching the subject in a gentlemanly manner!
Before being vegan I used to like suede shoes. I purchased a pair of Italian "vegan suede" shoes in 2008 and so far they have lasted admirably well in terms of durability. The stuff they are made of is called "vegetan" as far as I know, and as of now they are still going strong.
Kangaroo gets eaten regularly in Australia so I bet that's where the hides come from so I would tend to put it more closely into the range of cow leather
Only tourists eat kangaroo.
70% is exported to Europe and other markets, the rest is made into petfood and a tiny amount goes into supermarkets or restaurants where they try to convince tourists we all eat it. The industry would love that to be the case but it just isn't.
As an Australian myself I can confirm that this is quite a common food to eat. Bit difficult to cook though because it’s easy to make it too dry. There are currently some debates (more so within environmentalist movements) as to whether kangaroo meat is harvested sustainably or not (even for food). There are varying statistics regarding the population of certain species of kangaroo (some are protected, others are considered pests). Some argue that 'pest' kangaroos are being over-culled and are becoming at risk of being endangered if the same level of culling continues.
It's also eaten frequently in Denmark, probably some other European countries too.
@@Jade1_S I've had several pairs of shoes made from kangaroo leather. It's lighter, softer and looks great. I much prefer it to cow leather for shoes.
Excellent, well-rounded video. I'm glad you mentioned buying vintage - that's often the most environmentally friendly option even for non-leather products.
Thank you so much for this video. Been waiting for it ever since you hinted at making it.
I'm starting to get addicted to your channel now. so much useful information and style. thanks!!!
I think a point that was missed about how ethical or not leather is (from cattle stock at least), is how many skins from cows and sheep are just straight up burned on piles instead of going to use as leather.
At least that’s a way for me as a leather maker hobbyist to make it ethical for me to do this hobby. I won’t use exotics because of that, but cow and sheep seems more than fair until we stop eating meat en masse (something I’d support tbh).
Vegetarian, trying to go vegan here.
This is a very fair and we'll researched assessment of vegan leathers.
Another point that is important to note is that although leather is a by-product of the meat industry, buying new leather goods means that meat farms make more profit from each animal. This makes animal farming more lucrative which I want to avoid.
I bought a pair of vegan leather shoes earlier this year, unfortunately I couldn't find a Goodyear welted pair so I had to go for glued rubber sole. I find them very comfortable and I hope they last me a long time, I will be taking good care of them.
I like your focus on buying vintage rather than new, thanks for the great video. Keep up the good work!
In my experience vegan leather items bought from vegan companies often last for years when taken good care of (how many people actually take good care of their clothes anyway these days). It's the accidental vegan items from non vegan brands that use the horrible desintegrating stuff. Another plus is that the european vegan brands produce a lot of their items and materials in the EU and you know the work conditions in the factories are to European standards too.
I must admit vegan biker jackets last significantly shorter as for now. Which is why I won't buy a new one in the near future. Vegan suede seems to do better in jackets.
Needed this, thank you so much!!!!!
Vegan here.
First of all, thank you for great, fair and in depth comparison.
I, as a person who wants to have as low negative impact on the environment as possible, I still use my leather wallet, shoes and belts, that I bought before going vegan. Am I super happy, that I wear products made of animals? - of course not. Would it make me a better person if I threw it away with contempt? - absolutely not.
I most probably won't buy another leather shoes or belt in near future, but it doesn't change the fact that those products can last for ages, if you take care of them.
The meat/leather industry is terrible. The animals are treated as objects, live in awful conditions and are killed just for humans needs.
BUT - the fast fashion, super cheap clothes made somewhere in Bangladesh are way more harmful to the planet, therefore to animals too.
Hopefully the companies will keep improving these vegan leathers, so we can enjoy nice and durable fashion without any animals suffering.
Yeah i accidentally bought another pair of doc martens years ago and it would just be a shame to throw them out. It impossible how to forger to stop eating meat tho in my humble oppinion..
hey! i am currently writing at article on vegan leather for a magazine! please may i use this comment of yours in my piece?
if you have any more questions please let me know :)
As a vegetarian trying to go vegan i still use leather, but it's been years since the last time I bought something new made of leather, thrifted stuff made of leather is sure to last forever and since it's thrifted, I'm not contributing to the leather market and production. And I think it's far more ethical and coherent to my beliefs to buy thrifted leather-made objects that I know I won't have to change every years rather than buying new vegan stuff that won't have the same duration. I think people don't realise how many leather vintage/pre-loved stuff it's currently unused and available to buy. Anyways the video is really interesting and I'm so sorry for all the negative comments this is receiving because it's very clear you put a lot of effort into your work and try to make really informative content.
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china. Vegan society website for more info on veganism
@@bvegannow1936 i am vegan but u buy thrifted leather-made objects, as I said. Most of them are from the 80s so I know that they will last for another 30 years or so.
@@luciad.6487 that's not vegan. Your still creating demand for the product.
@@bvegannow1936 i am not creating demand for the product since it's unused stuff???
hey! i am currently writing at article on vegan leather for a magazine! please may i use this comment of yours in my piece? let me know if you have any questions!
I don't know, I respect people that try to live sustainably and ethically towards animals but my internal cynic (or realist) tells me that many companies like to sell you worse material for more because sustainable and vegan and other buzz-words. I am from very rural upbringing, I grew up with animals and I see animal death as a part of life. If you do it quick and without pain, fine by me. Abusing animals is absolutely abhorrent but giving them good life and quick death afterwards, why is it bad?
While I generally agree with your sentiment and don't necessarily see animal death per se as something "evil" (even though I'm living mostly vegetarian/borderline vegan these days), the huge problem is that - on a global scale - over 90% of anything concerning the exploitation of lifestock (for meat, leather, milk, eggs - you name it) *is* abuse, if not downright torture.
People are often very focussed on their own experience and circumstances, and you will often hear arguments like "I only buy local products from local farmers, I see these cows on the meadows each day" etc., but even if this is true, it does not account for the 90% of worldwide meat consumers that do not have that option.
It’s apart of life. We humans and carnivores/omnivores naturally use animals as a source for our needs, whether having a balanced diet or for material needs. The majority of cultures agree that torturing an animal is wrong. It’s possible to obtain our needs without making them suffer.
Why not turn humans into leather too when they die? Why is ok to wear the dead body parts of some species but not others?
@@Untoldanimations yeah, a group did that in the 30s and fourties. Sounds like you’re apart of that group. I’ll pass.
@@Untoldanimations There were cultures that did that. Not really European tradition, and thanks to the colonialism, not around anymore. I guess another reason why colonialism was bad?
Next thing you know there is vegan meat?? Like plant meat ... Also ppl getting mad over what you say, I stand with you. You have shared non biased view but also you're a expert on leather. These ppl here wanting to promote vegans when it's not even the topic slightest. Hope you don't bend and apologize on Twitter and such because you are in no way wrong.
Yeah, all those plants are dying unlike cows.
tbh there is vegan meat and has been for a quite a while, nothing much wrong with it when done properly.
I object to vegan diet plans aggressively promoting stuff like quinoa which drive up the price of staple crops out of reach of third world farmers who relied on them for their daily diet, and water intensive crops like almonds for vegan milk. But I've had pea protein plant based meat before and it's fine, cooks like meat does and tastes fine.
I do prefer a more wide ranging approach to sustainable food than just saying "go vegan" though, pork has much much less environmental impact that beef does in terms of land use and energy consumption, and cheap battery farmed chicken is also bad from both an ethical standpoint as well as environmental, in medieval times eating a chicken was something only the nobility really did or sometimes a capon if you were mid tier wealth, it's only really after WWII that cheap chicken became common worldwide.
@@G1NZOU well I thoughteat was flesh how can plant be "meat" wouldn't it be called vegetables
@@surfingcipher1059 Well in the example I'm talking about it's not ever explicitly stated as "meat" so it's all good, it's called plant bals and plant mince, from Ikea, but serves as an alternative to their meatballs, while they still have the veggie ball option which looks more like the traditional veggie burger type stuff with visible bits of corn, pepper, chickpea etc in it, whereas the plant based new option is supposed to simulate the texture of meat, which it does relatively well.
@@G1NZOU my Goodness having the texture does not make it meat 'meat' means flesh why not call anything other than meat.
You ppl and your relabeling words that were used for thousands of years.
An impressively well researched and balanced video. Well done!
I am very impressed with how well informed and fair the presentation was made. Well done GG.
excellent, well balanced, well researched video. i personally do not like the look of wearing skin, whether it is imitation or real animal skin but for those who enjoy the look of skin, i think your advice to buy vintage is extremely good. anyone even remotely concerned with human suffering and environmental pollution should certainly avoid buying cheap new leather because of the aggressively awful tanning processes in third world countries. although i do not buy or recommend buying animal products, anyone who is going to buy that stuff brand new and not vintage needs to probably increase their budget and buy high end first world products which most people cannot afford. i will share this video
The whole green movement is likely doing more harm than good right now.
While it's caused many people to be more considerate, the movement itself also causes an incredible amount of oil & gas to be burned on top of our usual consumption.
You can calculate the dollars-worth that it burns just by taking all the money spent on and, _on behalf of_ "green initiatives" (i.e. it has to include the increases to end-cost it causes in consumer goods, like cars, etc.)
So you take that amount (a couple trillion dollars per year), and multiply it by 0.8
Take half that number and multiply it by the avg. cost per gallon of crude oil, and that's how much crude oil per year the green movement is burning.
Do that again with avg. cost of natural gas, and that's how much gas it burns each year.
The numbers you get are incredibly high, and the reality of all this doesn't give you much hope....
This was a very useful video. Thanks for covering this topic!
Real leather is too good to replace. I have a leather phone case and leather everything, and I love it
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. Be vegan
@@bvegannow1936 *No.*
I prefer real leather more, especially if you're an adult and your growth phase is done.
For instance, If you invest in pair of good quality, full-grain, dark-colored boots with a good year welt construction, you won't need to invest in another pair for decades to come.
Agree, I'm tiny and I still use shoes from back when I was 14 years old (I'm 25) and boots that my grandma use to wear at my age
@@carolchavez5213
Yep! That's the point. I always found dealing with the actualization of temporary styles which are requiring constant updates as tiresome and cost-ineffective.
The same goes for lower-quality footwear.
I decided to build myself a system, and it's been working out pretty well for me so far.
I have 10 pairs of footwear (if we exclude converse high tops and canvas running shoes).
I have three pairs of Chelsea boots (black, brown, and beige), one pair of wingtip boots (brown), two pairs of oxford shoes (black and brown), two pairs of penny loafers (black and brown), and a pair of white and black sneakers.
Everything I have is of premium quality, everything is classic, and colors are complementing my wardrobe.
Now, if you have a pair of premium quality, full-grain, dark-colored footwear with a good year of welt construction and you wear and tear it every day, it's still going to last you at least a decade. If you build yourself a rotation as I did, you're going to prevent a pair from wearing out too quickly, and if you choose dark colors (which aren't requiring scrubbing and washing in order for them to appear clean), you'll have a footwear collection which can last you more than a few decades.
Also, If most of your footwear is black and brown, those will be complementary to any color in your wardrobe. I use black for the achromatic looks (also with burgundy), while I use brown for anything else. If everything is classic, it won't go out of style in few years, and it means you can combine most of your shoes with most of your bottoms.
At the end of the day, it means that when you build yourself a collection of good quality, classic and versatile footwear, shoe troubles are over for a long time; possibly forever.
It means way more money in your pocket, no more requirement for another pair because the last one got broke or went out of style, and it eventually means less pollution, because once the rotation is over, there isn't a demand for another pair, and less demand means less production.
So, what's better than saving money and causing less pollution while looking your best?
P.S. From my experience, the only anomaly in my system lies in white sneakers. I'm not as concerned about the quality of those, and I buy them at affordable prices.
The reason for that lies down in their color. Every time you wear those, you'll get visible dirt on them, so you'll need to clean those very often, and unlike dark-colored footwear which you can smoothly rub and polish, white-colored footwear requires scrubbing and water. That form of external influence will ruin your shoes, whether if those are low or high quality, so in a relation to white sneakers, I just accepted that I'll need to change those every few years, while everything else is 👌🏻.
Also, having something that can last throughout generations is pretty cool. It just proves the point. What was classic in the 50s, 60s and 70s will be classic today and it'll probably remain classic in the future.
The best style is the one that never gets out of style.
Thank you for making a well rounded unbiased video on this! So often I see videos comparing the two and people usually just say that leather is a bi product so its ethical to use, and why should you care if it's just going to get thrown away?
Hopefully vegan leather will become even better (especially with durability)
Also you technically can repair vegan leather, usually I create a patch to go over the wound (I usually make embroidered denim patches, cause I like visible mends) and then you glue then stitch it on
Also it is far easier to work with real leather when creating shapes, but vegan leather can be manipulated relatively easily with a heat gun, still not the same, but we can create new techniques to use the material instead of just using old leather techniques 💖
I buy all my leather goods either vintage or 2nd hand - that way I feel less guilty. Plus the quality of older vintage leather goods just seem to stand the test of time.
That's the way to do it. I am a vegan. So I go for second hand leather. There are no ethical issues as far as I am concerned. And it saves me money. Why buy one new pair of Allen Edmonds when I can get multiple pairs second hand on Ebay for the same price. Since I am vegan; when the soles wear out I plan on getting rubber soles.
MycoWorks. Leather from Mycelium (mushrooms).
Very good point on cost per use & total cost of ownership concept as it applies to high-quality leather goods vs cheap imitation options. Most people don’t consider secondary and tertiary consequences of their buying decisions, and combined with our society that constantly bombards us with marketing messages, many of us go astray in pursuit of latest and greatest. I’ve been a long time proponent of quality over quantity approach to ownership of items in my life.
Where’d you get that polo? Looks great
I have been a vegetarian for almost five years, and I always thought of leather as a by-product of a meat industry that won't disappear any time soon, so I still use it but hope to see a decrease in meat consumption non the less. The real innovation in vegan leather is currently occuring in form of plant and fungi derived materials that are even tougher and longer-lasting than an animal hide but are not yet mass-produced. There is also a method of printing meat that could eliminate the need for live animals in meat production completely, but the research is currently more focused on printing organs for transplant surgeries, so we won't see that any time soon. I guess it has to become clear which method is most cost-efficient and suitable for mass production in order to see big clothing brands using it as a part of their lineup. It would be interesting to revisit this subject in a few years, but as of right now, I completely agree with the cost per wear argument or using the natural fibre alternative instead.
same I am a vegetarian too
You also have the plastic issue. I've been a vegetarian since I was a child but still use leather on the basis that it's long lasting, although I try to be sustainable with my purchases. That is not always easy.
Did anyone ever stop to think how many Nogas had to die in order to furnish a sufficient number of hides to upholster the interior of your Pontiac or the sofa in your living room?!
Some meats aren’t worth much but the leather is
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china.
Words I never thought I'd hear someone say: The ring picks up the color of my shorts :D Love it!
Have been enjoying your channel but got a question. Warm climate proper dress. If I wear most of what you suggest I could not leave air conditioning where I live.
Hearing about the Louis Vuitton bag reminded me of an eight hundred dollar Michael Kors bag that is mostly PVC with leather trim.
On the topic of vegan alternatives, I noticed that vegan (faux) fur is worse for the environment than actual fur.
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china. Vegan society website for more info on veganism
@@bvegannow1936 No.
@@bvegannow1936 yeah what they said
Dogs are too small to make decent sized panels for anything like cars or furniture
Maybe a St Bernard or Great Dane
I have a vegan leather pouch for my lockpicking kit and its honestly not that bad great feel and lightness dosent give away if I'm carrying it openly. Fashion wise im not sure...
I would love to see videos going back to the topics of the beginning of this channel. Do some of them over: Basics on suits, sports coats, etc.
Obviously, our standards and production quality has improved, and we have already done a few old ones, and we will continue to sprinkle them in, but we cannot just do old videos over.
@@gentlemansgazette As someone who has been watching for years. It is nice to get a reminder of the basics every now and then. I often thick of those who just began watching, and don't go searching the archives. It is just a thought. I still watch content.
He basically has enough employees/friends where he could have an interactive panel and answer questions. They could even do a critical yet gentlemanly analysis of various celebrity looks and advise people who ask about thier wardrobe, etc... sometimes addressing the basics on modern trends is just as applicable as it was when giving advice from the beginning. I have some ideas,... let me know. He could do this on a weekly basis and gain revenue.
This... This is actually interesting.
That dance break caught me off guard - bravo Raphael
I agree with the statement that, if you are vegan, you may be better off just going with high end fabric options instead. Rather than look bad in artificial leather, why not look good in legitimate fabrics?
Absolutely. Can vegans wear wool or cashmere?
Cactus leather. It is only new to the market a couple of years ago. It is partially biodegradable, and reportedly as soft as leather and quite durable.
But as a vegan myself, I still wear animal leather until the consumption of meat is reduced. This is primarily for shoes, and I am careful to source from companies who have good environmental practices.
Your not vegan if u buy leather shoes. Go to Vegan society website to learn more about veganism.
@@bvegannow1936 Yes I am. Other people don't get to define what I am. This is what's called the "No true Scotsman" fallacy. You could google that for some understanding.
My first set of boots were harness boots (made in China) and were made of Faux leather. I had them for a little over 3 years till the material began to crumble apart bit by bit to the point that there was no way of repairing them and nor they were pleasant looking wearing them out in public. I received a pair of cowboy boots and tossed my first pair away. Since then, my boots are holding up very good. Almost a year into them and they’re holding up great and looking forward to see them aging like wine
I think it's also important to realize how much water is wasted in the creation of leather. We use more water for cows than for humans!
And CO2 enmissions from livestock raising.
Can you imagine the extra flatulence there would be if 8 billion humans went vegan, all that fruit and vegetables creates a lot if gas, just like cattle eating grass
The waste in meat industry and plants are actually really similar, i don't know the detail i only heard it from a debate
For products that must be leather like work boots, I intend on purchasing used. A good pair of used work boots like Red Wing can be resoled again and again.
To the pleather fans: Find me a pair or pleather shoes that you THINK will outlast real leather and I’ll find you a pair of leather shoes that I KNOW will outlast your pleather, I will always prefer real leather. Great video SRS!!!
if you will always prefer real leather, then why challenge others to find you a pair of pleather shoes that will outlast real leather.. it won't change your mind..
@@bazza5699 The point is vegans almost always take a moral highground while being factually incorrect almost all the time. Every ideology deserves to be challenged.
I feel I can be as harsh as I wish since I was vegan for over a year of my life. I know the ins and outs of both sides of the argument. I find veganism the weaker stance.
I am in complete agreement!
there have been various tests on this already on youtube and modern vegan leather wins in most tests related to tearing and strength so modern leather technically lasts longer. the only benefit of animal leather is patina rather than skuffing, not longevity
@@VeganFootsoldier I knew you were a gentleman, VF :)
My goal is to be fully vegan in terms of clothing by January. Finding a wide range of options is problematic
Look online
It really is problematic. I’ve been a vegetarian since 1999 and have been vegan several times. It’s very hard to find good hiking boots for example. So sometimes I just buy leather used on Poshmark or the real real.
@@GrayWithMeI think there's a company called vegetarian shoes that make good stuff
I just polished my brand new vegan leather Adidas sneakers :D I went for them because of the style, but I'd rather have full grain of course. In due course.
Thank you very much for the excellent video. It would be of great help if you could tell me
how I could find this sampler for real leather. Thank you!
Your voice...my my. Your voice and your way of speaking could put an angry dragon to sleep...love your channel you put the gentle back into gentleman
Seriously man I completely expected you to be biased and sway completely to one side but you made fair assessments to both and i learned a slightly diff point of view on it and appreciate the work you put in to make the vid. Thanks
Well presented and interesting material. I'm not convinced on the obviousness of the durability argument. Is it your personal experience, do you have sources backing the claim?
I think some durability aspects are easily surpassed by some of the synthetic materials, like shear strength (avoiding ripping).
I am interested in the pinatex which is made from the tops of pineapple tops.
I find the vegan leather on my watch box is fine, but overall I'm not too keen on it. I've had more than one faux leather item start disintegrating on me, on one occasion not even a year after purchase, so I don't trust it much in terms of durability and ageing gracefully.
I much prefer real leather sourced ethically and made with quality, feels more like I'm being more sustainable with my money if I can buy an item that'll last 20-30 years with good maintenance compared to something synthetic that'll be lucky to last 3 before needing replacement. Same with fabrics.
Ew, you know how much suffering the animals have to edure? It's horrific and disgusting. Some humans are just plain evil
hey! i am currently writing at article on vegan leather for a magazine! please may i use this comment of yours in my piece? let me know if you have any questions please :)
Fantastic informational video. Thank you
I greatly appreciate this video. I've been contemplating the impact of vegan leathers on the environment.
While I don't agree with the leather industry overall, you can't deny how long the product lasts when taken care of. Additionally, they biodegrade faster.
As you stated, I do side with buying vintage clothes, because they have already been produced. One could take some timeless dress shoes, or boots, and refurbish their finish.
I'm waiting for true plant-based leathers, like the one's made from pinatex, fungi, scoby from kombucha, etc. I am involved in the business world. I would mostly look toward vintage shoes, and suits which can be tailored. For a true bespoke suit, there isn't anything available in that already disappearing market, but hopefully there can be some compromise without lowering the quality.
I have long bemoaned that lack of attention to developing plant-based (not synthetic) wool and silk for the garment and home goods textiles markets. But we're in the infancy of veganism as an industrial movement, so take heart!
@@tamcon72 Same here. It's a bit frustrating for someone who's fashion forward. I would greatly appreciate being able to easily buy garments made from plants, and likewise with furniture.
@@Normal_Garage At least Tencel and Modal weaves are becoming more refined for clothing. I see "vegan"-friendly suits and dresses at certain websites and most of them are awful, made of improperly cut cotton or synthetics that don't drape well or breathe, but they cost a pretty penny because the market is limited. There are better quality items available sometimes, but they must be purchased from vegan clothier websites, and said vegan clothiers come and go without warning; it's a tough business to break into and stay in.
Home decor is the vegan bee in my fair- trade cotton bonnet: I just moved into an early 20th century apartment, which has beautiful hardwood floors but, as I'm in a northern climate, could use some floor coverings in the fall and winter. When I sold my parents' house to move here, I left behind the large, hand woven wool Oriental rug that my mother had purchased years ago for the living room floor, glad that I wasn't bringing animal hair with me, but _resentful_ that there was no plant-based alternative for my new home. And there isn't. Jute, which looks fine on a sunroom floor but not on a bedroom floor, shag cotton, which looks too casual to be versatile, recycled pop bottle/other plastic fiber that off-gasses and doesn't insulate. I have to remind _myself_ to be patient as it's early days!
I am a vegan who loves leather. I don't see any real ethical issues with second hand leather. Since leather is a byproduct of the meat industry; just avoiding animal foods makes a difference. My Allen Edmonds from Ebay will last me a long time. When the sole wears out I plan on getting a rubber sole. Second hand also has the benefit of being cheaper. I get a quality product at a lower price and I am ensuring that it doesn't end up in a landfill before its time.
Thanks for making this video. I am glad that you made an effort to keep it unbiased.
I have a watch strap made from apple skins. Looks and feels great!
The pineapple fiber is actually strong.
Sheep and goats, depending on the country, are arguably for wool and milk production, not meat.
I have been told that most manufacturers that the leather does not usually come from animals that we eat. If we use the skins from the slaughter house wouldn't that make a big difference?
You lost me at "These big companies that sell leather say vegan leather is not good" studies and solidified your conclusion out of them.
This channel is a life changer.
I find a waxed cotton jacket to be a great alternate to a leather or plastic jacket.
As a vegan I am very impressed with how respectful to potential contrasting views this video was. I admire the way this topic was handled! Thanks GG!
I would like to suggest a new trend I am noticing on leather. That is leather used in electronics. The requirements are very different making plastic based leather or rubber as the best material. I am curious about vegan leather because I want to know if there are natural leather that are suited for such an application.
I'm vegan, but I hate polyester. I'm thinking of a compromise: natural fabrics only, with a preference for plant fibers. Real leather for dress shoes, but canvas for a wallet. Fur felt for a wintertime hat, but no fur trim on coats. A cotton suit, not a wool one. A wooden shoehorn, not a horn one. Could you make a video about recommendable compromises like these?
This Channel is Gold 👌.
Vegetarian sometimes vegan. I have both leather and vegan leather bags, and honestly, I'd rather invest in a quality leather product that will last over time. My vegan leather bags that are of plastic materials have never held up well past three to four years. I even compared my bag to my brother's leather work bag that he has used for 10+ years and still looks brand new.
There are a couple of products you didn't mention but might want to do a bit of research on. One is Sileather, which is a vinyl alternative that is supposed to be very long lasting, sustainable and much better for the environment. You also didn't mention Cork fabric, which is made from peeling bark from trees.
How can vinyl be sustainable when it is made from oil?
@@HattonbankIt isn't vinyl. It's a vinyl alternative made from silicone.
@@SewFunbut silicone itself isn't good for the environment either. It's great for medical stuff but ultimately probably even worse for the environment than plastics.
Honestly, guys for excatly same topic I was waiting for so long to come from you. I am so suprised and so happy that you brought this! Sadly I am still feeling that there’s lack in fashion industry. I mean there’s so many very talented leathercrafters who makes for example wallets, cases for iPads, etc that are still choose to use animal products. I really do hope to see more of vegan leather choices.
Anyway Thank You so much for bringing up this topic! 🙏🏻
Love the ring!!
Exemplary research and presentation here, thank you.
Anyone know if shell cordovan is a byproduct of the meat industry? At nearly $1k a pair for new shell boots/shoes I'm not really at risk of buying any brand new but I'd still be curious.
Yes. It comes from horses. People eat horses in some parts of the world.
My diet is vegan but I still buy leather because leather products are works of art.
Veganism isn't a diet. Your diet is plant based.
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china. Vegan society website for more info on veganism.
@@bvegannow1936 your diet is bland and boring
The solution is obvious. Nothing beats the class, elegance and exclusivity of naugahyde.
I believe that, as a Hindu, getting good quality leather made from animals other than cows or buffalo and using the product for a long time is better than getting a cheap alternative and having it last for less time.
I have a camel leather belt bought in India at the same price a vegan leather belt would be bought in America and it has lasted longer than any vegan or other animal leather belts have lasted me.
As a German I’m surprised you didn’t mention the ‘granddaddy’ of non-garment faux leathers: Mercedes Benz’s infamous MB-Tex !!
i think one thing that really needs to be understood more is that if you want people to take care when creating your product, you need to pay them enough for them to be able to. addiction to cheap tat is one thing i strive to eliminate from my life, purchasing quality products as i can afford to.
Actually, more exploration into fungi farming would be the most ideal in my opinion as for now. It takes up less space and we can pick species with characteristics we want for each purpose. Also, if we get lucky we might even stumble upon the ones that consume our waste in the process. That would be a win on multiple fronts. 😉
Comparing vegan leather to the highest quality leather sounds a bit biased to me - with the current "fast fashion", enthusiasts who will nurture a high quality real leather product through years of existence are rather an exception than a rule, hence for a mass consumer I am happy that vegan leather is getting better. The real stuff should not be wasted on something that will be thrown in the garbage within a few months.
I was thinking about vegan leather the other day! Talk about timing
Aren’t drain pipes made of pvc 🥴
Great video!
I appreciate GG taking on such objects, as - no matter our preferences - all of us here who are not likely to be pining for the fjords in the forseeable future will inevitably be faced with the consequences of the current, unsustainable consumerist way of living that we all are living now to some degree. Alternatives will in due time not just be actual "alternatives", but the only viable options available to most, be it leather, meat or really most other animal products that are now mass "produced" on a nausea inducing scale.
However, I am somewhat disappointed that only PU and PVC leather alternatives had gotten a mention, as there's a lot happening right now in regards to plant- and fungus-based leathers that have very different characteristics from the pleathers mentioned here and are becoming something much closer to the "real thing". Maybe fodder for a part two somewhere down the road...?
To me, the ethics are even more important than the environmental considerations
The environmental consideration is the main ethical consideration
@@ns7023 that’s surely an argument that can be made, but I’m not sure I would agree. Factory farming is absolutely horrible.
You know you can make vegan leather from cactus, pineapple, mushroom etc? They don't have to be made form plastic.
He explained that
They made wih petroleum based material which is plastic. Go read their website
What about the fact that vegan leather is easier to take care of? You never have to worry about a polyurethane jacket getting too wet.
I am not a vegan, but can I also point out that for a pair of shoes to be advertised as "vegan" no animal products should be involved. so this means that any glues or any other products involved in the manufacture should be none animal based, so it's not just the "leather" in the shoes. Lots of glues including in the manufacture of shoes, even if they are also stitched have a part glue bond generally animal-based glues are used.
Good point, stuff like animal hoofs and waste cartilage makes for good performing glues so the industry uses it a lot. I think dried fish intestine or bladder also works if I remember from a medieval arrow making video I watched.
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china. Vegan society website for more info on veganism
Awesome! Now I understand!
I have to say, that my vegan DocMartens last for much longer now, than the animal leather versions of some of my friends, that already broke in some places, where as my 4 year old boots still look almost as good as new.
Could you produce a video evaluating morocco, Italian and US leather?
Watch earthlings the documentary it's free on youtube. UA-cam peta dog leather. Be vegan. Some leather sold in first world countries is actually from stollen pet dogs in china.
@@bvegannow1936 B vegan Later, stop spamming
Dear Sven: thank a lot for all this increible work. By the way, Has anyone ever told you that you look like Ralph Macchio?
I don't see how using a nonbiodegradable product that perpuates the use of fossil fuels is environmentally conscious at all.
So the only way to be env conscious is to be a cave man and make your own shoes from leaves and not use electronics?
Hydro made a valid point, your answer shows your ignorant personality
I’m waiting for those vegan plant based leathers that are durable. Belts, shoes, watch straps, luxury bags and bags in general, everything that can replace animal leather.
Since i want to dress w originals from 1890s or 1880s i have to wear leathers. But since i cant find original footwear large enough n that i don't wann aconsume animals. I purchase vintage leather goods. In fact all i get is antique, vintage or at least second hand
10:54 "No, I'm not a doctor," but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.