The Reality about Vegan Leather: It is equal to True Leather?

Leather jackets always existed and for good reasons. They are hip, hard-wearing and, as time goes by, they are just plain cool-looking. However, here is the point: the leather jackets are constantly changing. Of course, the traditional leather jacket will forever remain in our wardrobe, yet nowadays, there is one more bet, and it is called vegan leather. In the face of the sustainable fashion movements, an increasing number of individuals are resorting to vegan leather. But the question is which one is the best? Is vegan leather as good as the real one or not? So, what are they and here we go a little bit deeper.

Vegan Leather

Faux leather is also known as vegan leather that looks like real one but was never created using animal products. It is constructed of many different synthetic products such as polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), some new products are produced out of more environmentally friendly products such as plant fibers, apples, and mushrooms. Does it sound cool? It is wonderful to be used by everyone who wants to avoid animal products, yet what about touch, quality, and solidity? That is where it all gets somewhat dicey.

The Real Deal: What is in a Leather Jacket?

Here, by talking about real leather we mean good old cowhide (or well it might be sheep or goatskin) which has been tanned and cured to make it durable. Real leather jackets are sooth in feel and so rich in smell. The difference between the real leather and its imitations lies with the aging. With time it gets even more beautiful because it gets a special sort of patina by now it is your jacket, your style. But we should not jump too much, as among all its good looks, there are a couple of environmental and ethical issues surrounding leather jackets.

Why Vegan Leather?

Vegan leather is famous as it does not harm the animal, though not all of them are environmentally friendly. Most of the cheaper variants are of PVC, which is a plastic that pollutes the environment. Newer plant-based varieties of meat such as mushroom- or apple-based are however more sustainable. Although vegan leather is beneficial in terms of animal welfare, one also has to take into account how the material affects the environment.

Vegan Leather Pros and Cons

The Pros

       Animal-Friendly: As such, vegan leather is animal-free, which is a fantastic advantage to      most individuals.

       Cost-effective: In most cases, vegan leather is more cost-effective compared to real            leather and thus more affordable to a person with low budget.

       Flexibility of color and Design: Vegan leather is also more likely to exist in a broader            color range, textures, and finish since it can be made in so many forms.

The Cons

        Durability Problem: Although vegan leather may appear initially, it is not as durable as         real leather with time. There is the ability to crack, peel and deform when worn out             regularly.

        Not Environmentally Friendly: Not all vegan leathers are environmentally friendly, and         the ones on the PVC basis are quite damaging to the environment since they are                 plastics. Alternatives are being born, but they are not in the majority.

     Less Ventilated: Vegan leather is not very ventilated as compared to the real leather             which can become uncomfortable especially when you are wearing it all day.

The reason why Real Leather is exceptional

 The Benefits

   Long life span: Since you are investing in genuine leather, you are acquiring the jacket         that will have a long-life span of many years and decades. The older it gets, the more         attractive it becomes, the courtesy of the process of aging.

     Natural Comfort: Breathable: Genuine leather products bend to your body with time,           and it is as comfortable as you can get in the products.

   Classic Look and Feel: Nothing can match the touch and the sight of authentic leather         which is emulated by the false materials.

Which then should you select?

It is all about what you want, whether you prefer or not, what you value and how you choose to live. Real leather would most likely be the best option should you wish to have a jacket that would endure time, not only superbly look with age, but also gain a character by the years. Otherwise, when you care more about sustainability or animals, a vegan leather is a brilliant choice to make, just make sure that you do not overlook the environmental impact of the material itself.

At Antarctic Leathers you can find both leather and vegan leather, so you can make a better choice, depending on what is more significant to you. Need the classic style and feel of actual leather or the moral boost of vegan leather, we have you covered.

Final Thoughts

The vegan and real leather have their advantages and disadvantages yet there is one certain thing: you cannot get bored of a leather jacket real or fake; it cannot get out of fashion. The secret is to settle on the one that leads to your needs, to your budget, and to your values. Well, at Antarctic Leathers, we have high quality leather jackets, which are durable, whichever your choice is.