What is vegetable-tanned leather?

Vegetable-tanned leather is an animal product mostly made from the hide of cows, sheep, and goats. We only use leather hides, which are a by-product of the meat industry. Only 10% of all leather is vegetable-tanned. It’s called vegetable-tanned because only natural tannins, like tree bark, are used in the tanning process. Vegetable tanning has a centuries-long heritage of artisanal craftsmanship and is the traditional way of curing hides. It gives the leather a distinct appearance and durability. The more popular chrome-tanned leather often uses heavy metals and is hazardous to the environment and the people working with it. Vegetable-tanned leather, on the other hand, is biodegradable and hazardous chemical-free!

What is vegan leather?

Vegan leather is a material that mimics leather but excludes the use of animal skins. Instead, artificial or plant products try to reproduce a leathery feeling. Vegan leather is normally made from two different plastic polymers: polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). That’s right, a petroleum-based material.  But, plant origins can be used too, such as pineapple leaves, cork, or apples. For instance, our vegan leather back patches are partly made from corn and wheat, so that they are available for vegans to wear too.

Leather or vegan leather?

Okay, we explained both vegetable-tanned and vegan leather in detail, but how do they compare? Even though it is often a petroleum-based product, vegan leather's carbon footprint is lower than animal leather's. The animal agriculture industry has a massive carbon footprint because of the production of food for the animals and methane emissions. But, although nowadays vegan leather can undoubtedly look like the “original”, sadly, it doesn’t last as long. Plastic vegan leather alternatives are disposed of sooner, and as they’re plastic, there are big sustainability concerns regarding the end of its life cycle. 

Where does our leather come from?

We source our leather from our tanner, Montana, in Italy. They are a member of the Leather Working Group and audited on social and environmental criteria, with a transparent EU-based supply chain. Montana is also part of the ‘Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale’, committed to genuine Italian leather named Vachetta, produced following traditional vegetable tanning methods.