Imagine the durability and finesse of leather minus the negative environmental impact and animal cruelty. Well, the sustainable result already exists - vegan leather, more specifically, eco leather. Taking the fashion and lifestyle space by storm, eco leather is the perfect material to guiltlessly work with. It’s often used to create stylish accessories without compromising on quality. Unlike faux leather that may be cruelty-free but made from plastic polymers that present their own unique set of environmental problems, eco leathers are entirely plant-based.

The benefits of eco leather are quite obvious. It’s clean. It’s green. It leaves the cows alone. And it’s just as luxe and tough as leather. It’s basically a win-win. So, we thought it’d be worth exploring the wide world of ecological leather substitutes and maybe learn a thing or two along the way.

The Usual Suspects

The fact that you’re reading this means you’re familiar with our brand (or at least we hope so). And if you’ve heard of us, you’d know that our eco leather weapons of choice are cork fabric and cactus leather. Other eco leathers that have made the rounds and are quite popular include pineapple leather and coconut leather. So, let’s break those down first.

Cork Fabric

Cork fabric is derived from the bark of Quercus suber trees. After the cork is collected from trees, it’s softened, sliced and mounted to create cork fabric which is a fully water-resistant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, fireproof, and buoyant material to work with.

Cactus Leather

To make cactus leather, materials are harvested from native sources without harming the plants. The resulting leather is luxurious, durable and flexible. It also has a signature sheen that only adds to its appeal.

Pineapple Leather

Pineapple Leather has also made its mark in the eco leather space. It is created by extracting the long fibres from pineapple leaves that are then washed, purified and dried. The resulting fibre is mixed with corn-based polylactic acid to create a material that can be crafted into fashion and lifestyle accessories.

Coconut Leather

Coconuts are the gift that keeps on giving. One of these boons is coconut leather which is made using wasted coconut, banana stems, sisal fibre, hemp and coconut water.

The Newbies

Moving on to the up and coming materials in the eco leather universe, let’s start with…

Apple Leather

Image credits: Samara

Made from apple peels that are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is then mixed with binding elements to become a leather-like fabric, apple leather is one of the latest leathers to be explored by different fashion brands.

Mushroom Leather

Image credits: Bolt Threads

Mushroom leather is grown from mycelial cells cultivated to create a soft and robust leather alternative. Its ability to be bred quickly and efficiently into different shapes and sizes makes it a favourite among those who work with eco leather.

Green Tea Leather

It was recently discovered that when green tea material is mixed with fabrics like hemp, it becomes a breathable, biodegradable and strong material that has proven to be more flexible and comfortable than animal leather.

Mango Leather

Made from leftover mangoes, mango leather is created by mashing and boiling them to remove bacteria and then converting them to a strong and durable fabric to work with.

We hope this piece gave you some insight into the ever-expanding world of eco leather. Here’s to you making an informed and educated purchase the next time you’re looking to buy leather. Maybe you can make that purchase right now by checking out some of our signature eco leather designs at myarture.com.