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Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a leather goods expert, became so shocked at the environmental impact of mass leather production - not to mention the ethical discomfort it can generate - that she was determined to discover a sustainable alternative. she discovered and developed a viable alternative made from the cellulose fibre of pineapple leaves (which become waste after the fruit is harvested). Piñatex is not only a sustainable and ethical material providing viable opportunities for scalability within mainstream fashion, but it has also provided a commercial industry for developing farming communities.

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H&M has pledged to become 100% 'climate positive' by 2040 by using renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency in all its operations. This includes a commitment to making the first two tiers of its supply chain climate neutral by 2030. It has also pledged to use 100% recycled or sustainable materials by 2030.

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Stay up to date with our latest sustainability initiatives and innovations.

Our Garment Collecting programme is the world's biggest of its kind, and we have garment collecting boxes in all of our stores globally.

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Caring for both people and the planet is important at H&M. Learn all about our sustainability work and how we're changing the future of fashion.

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ASOS is the latest retailer to get on board with thinking more about sustainability in the fashion world, launching a curated edit online full of "environmentally conscious clothing, accessories and living items".

Showing us that you don't have to compromise on style to be eco-friendly, the brand's new Responsible Edit is a one-stop shop for items that are both sustainably made and on-trend.With pieces made from recycled goods, sustainable fibres and fabrics created using less water and producing less waste, the edit has thousands of items to choose from.

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In June 2019, we launched our responsible edit on asos.com to surface more sustainable products to our customers. We've added a new responsible filter to the website to help customers discover and shop products that have a positive impact on people, animals and the planet.

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they use organic cotton and use hand weaving, hand knitting or hand embroidery they also create employment in rural areas where work is often scarce. All clothes are dyed using low impact dyes, free from harmful azo chemicals which are frequently used in clothing manufacture.

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You email address has been registered successfully! Thank you for signing up to receive our email newsletter. Check your email inbox to find an exclusive offer. Want to receive more personalized and relevant emails from us? Visit our preferences centre to tell us more about you.. VISIT THE PREFERENCES CENTER

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Stella McCartney launched her own fashion house under her name in a partnership with Kering as a 50/50 joint venture and showed her first collection in Paris in October 2001.  A lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney does not use any leather or fur in her designs. Her collections include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, eyewear, fragrance and kids.

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a new brand out of Mexico called Desserto is shaking things up by turning nopal cactus leaves into organic, all-natural, cruelty-free leather. Desserto is the first cactus-based leather on the market, and the material has the potential to make the vegan leather industry much more sustainable. Desserto's cactus leather is organic, partially biodegradable, soft, durable, and high enough quality that it can be used to make clothing, accessories, furniture, and even car interiors.

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kimduong Instagram : @blvckd0pe

315 329k 2 Buttons Followers Following

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Kim (@kimduong) | Photos and Outfits on 21 Buttons

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kimduong Instagram : @blvckd0pe 315 329k 2 Buttons Followers Following 21 Buttons uses cookies to help give you the best experience we can. If you go on surfing, you are accepting their use. More information here.

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The influencer that I have chosen is kim duong she is a stylist from germany who has worked with loads of different brands such as balenciaga and christian dior, I love her style and i'm influenced by it alot its very simplistic but edgy at the same time and she wears alot of leather. Even though she has 1 million followers on instagram she is very interactive with her fans and followers. she loves travelling and she loves nature so i want to incoporiate that into my brand ethos

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Vegan leather and faux leather are the same thing - There is a range of materials that can be used to make vegan leather
including synthetics like plastic and natural materials such as cork. essentially a fake 'leather' material that does not use animal skin.

The most commonly used materials for synthetic leathers are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), which are plastic based materials. Another term for fake leather is "pleather" which comes from the term plastic leather.

These two commonly used synthetic materials in particular have raised questions about the safety and dangers of vegan leather to the environment. Very few vegan leathers are made from natural materials although it is possible to find more eco friendly products made from materials like cork, kelp and even pineapple leaves.

Whilst does not include vegan leather options, we do take an eco-friendly and environmentally-aware approach to both leather tanning and finishing.

HOW IS VEGAN LEATHER MADE?

Synthetic leather is produced with different chemicals and a totally different industrial process to real leather. Bonding together a plastic coating to a fabric backing is the most common way to make faux leather; the types of plastic used in these coatings vary and this is what defines whether or not it is eco friendly.

Although PVC is in much less use than it was in the 1960's and 70's, it can still be found in the composition of some vegan leather. PVC releases dioxins, which are potentially dangerous in confined spaces and especially dangerous if burnt. It also uses plasticisers such as phthalates to make it flexible. Depending on the type of phthalate used, they're extremely toxic. It has been described by Greenpeace as the "single most environmentally damaging type of plastic".

The more modern and slightly less damaging plastic is PU, which is constantly being technically developed to reduce its flaws such as the hazardous toxins it releases during manufacturing and the oil based polymers it's made with which make use of fossil fuels.

WHAT DOES VEGAN LEATHER SMELL LIKE?

Vegan/Faux leather that is made with PVC or PU often has a very strange smell from the chemicals. It's often described as a 'fishy' smell and can often be very hard to get rid especially while trying not to ruin the material. PVC can also outgas dangerous toxins that give off this nasty smell.

WHAT DOES VEGAN LEATHER LOOK LIKE?

Vegan leather comes in several different forms and qualities, so some are more 'leather-like' than others. Generally speaking, and focusing on good quality vegan leather, there isn't that much difference to real leather. However, as vegan leather is synthetic, it doesn't form a patina like real leather does when ageing and it is much less breathable as the pores that are printed onto the surface of pleather are artificial.

VEGAN VERSUS REAL LEATHER:

The main concern for most people when deciding between vegan and real leather is the impact it has on animals and the environment. However, whilst the term vegan leather might imply an environmentally friendly product, this is not always the case.

IS VEGAN LEATHER GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Faux leather is known as vegan leather because the material used is never from animal skins but although this is a huge benefit for animal activists, the manufacture of synthetic leather is not beneficial to the environment or humans due to the toxins in the plastics used to make them. The manufacture and disposal of PVC-based synthetics let out hazardous dioxins, which can cause developmental and reproductive issues and even cause cancer. The synthetics used in vegan leathers also don't fully biodegrade, although they can be broken down to a degree, they can also release toxic particles and phthalates, which can affect the health of animals and the environment.

IS VEGAN LEATHER BETTER THAN REAL LEATHER?

Quality and durability are also important things to consider when comparing vegan and real leather. V egan leather is often a lot thinner than real leather and much more light weight which is great for fashion as it makes it potentially easier to work with, however it also makes it less durable than real leather. A real, good quality leather can last decades when cared for, whereas you might only get a year or so out of a pair of shoes made from good quality faux leather. This is an important factor when deciding between fake leather and real leather as the environmental impact of replacing a fake leather product multiple times is arguably more damaging than the purchase of one real leather item.

Synthetic leathers also wear out very unattractively whereas real leather ages over time and forms a patina, which is considered to add character to leather.

Faux leather, especially PVC based, isn't breathable either where as real leather has pores through which skin is able to breathe. So for clothing items such as jackets, vegan leather can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time.

In addition to environmental factors, faux leather is typically a lot cheaper than real leather products. This is because it's cheaper to produce synthetic plastic leather than it is to produce real leather. The craftsmanship of leather products is a highly skilled job and bespoke leather products such as sofas, jackets and luggage can be thousands of dollars. Manufacturers are able to command these prices because they are considered both high quality and highly durable.

MAINTAINING VEGAN LEATHER

As vegan leather is made with a plastic coating, it is already waterproof. This makes it easier to clean by using a mild detergent or just by wiping it with a damp cloth, however it also means that conditioning products can't penetrate it to stop it from drying up and cracking, which can happen if the fake leather is in the sun a lot and also if it's a particularly poor quality material. However, you can get certain products, which will cover the surface of the plastic to prevent high temperatures and sun rays from cracking the surface. Such products can also help to soften the material.

HOW TO REPAIR VEGAN LEATHER

You can replace or patch up the damaged area with a faux leather repair kit that can be bought online - they're easy to use and suited to different types of faux leather.

IS VEGAN LEATHER GOOD QUALITY?

Vegan leather can come in different standards of quality and as with real leather, the higher the quality, the longer it will last. Faux leather is generally a lot cheaper and of a lower quality to real leather, even at a high standard. Vegan leather is ultimately much less durable than real leather and tends to be thinner so it's not uncommon for it to tear or scuff badly over time.

HOW TO UNWRINKLE VEGAN LEATHER

It is important that you do not try to iron wrinkled vegan leather by putting the iron directly onto the material. The method you should use to remove wrinkles depends on the quality of the material - because synthetic 'pleathers' have plastic in them, they do not mix well with heat and it can often ruin the product completely. High quality faux leathers can be steamed to remove wrinkles if protected with a sheet, towel or lining as they are much more forgiving against heat however there still should be a lot of care taken when doing this. It is important that you don't heat your fake leather for more than 30 seconds.

HOW TO SHRINK VEGAN LEATHER

METHOD:

1. Wash the item in your washing machine on warm to clean off the article and prevent any contamination from 'baking' into the plastic material of the pleather.

2. Put the polyurethane item into an old pillowcase and tie off the top with a shoelace or piece of string to prevent it from falling out. Materials like this may get hot enough to stick to the dryer's drum, damaging the jacket and making a mess, so avoid this happening at all costs.

3. Set the dryer on high. Let the cycle go for about an hour. Allow the jacket to cool off and then test fit it. Repeat the cycle as needed, using progressively shorter drying times until satisfied.

CAN YOU STRETCH VEGAN LEATHER

Faux leather does stretch, but not as much as real leather. You need to be careful when trying to stretch fake leather because it increases the risk of it cracking, so it's best to avoid it all together.

CAN YOU DISTRESS VEGAN LEATHER?

Trying to distress faux leather will more often than not result in damaging the item. Most people tend to create a distressed affect on faux leather using thin layers of acrylic/fabric paints - thick layers can result in the vegan leather cracking and peeling the top layer entirely. Be sure to use paints/dyes suitable for the material, as solvents often eat away at pleather.

Remember to test the paint on a small inconspicuous area of the product first before applying all over.

HOW TO DYE VEGAN LEATHER

Faux leather is not as permeable as real leather, which means the material cannot easily absorb coloured dye. Therefore, even after dyeing your faux leather product you should be aware that the process will most likely need to be repeated throughout the products life span as the colour wears off over time.

METHOD:

1. Prepare the pleather surface by wiping it down with a clean cloth to remove any dust or dirt particles. For a thorough clean, it's recommended to wipe the product down with pure alcohol.

2. Once clean and dry your vegan leather product is ready to be dyed with upholstery paint. Please see the instructions on the paint product for the recommended drying time.

Remember to test the paint on a small inconspicuous area of the product first before applying all over.

HOW TO SOFTEN VEGAN LEATHER

Vegan leather is less permeable than real leather, and therefore traditional leather conditioning products have little impact on softening the material. Vinyl conditioner is typically recommended to soften faux leather, and should be applied with a soft cloth in small circular motions. Excess conditioner should then be removed with a clean cloth before leaving the product to dry. The process can be repeated until the level of softness desired is achieved.

Written by Camilla Shep

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All You Need To Know About Vegan Leather

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Vegan leather and faux leather are the same thing - essentially a fake 'leather' material that does not use animal skin. There is a range of materials that can be used to make vegan leather including synthetics like plastic and natural materials such as cork.

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The leather biker jacket has gone from being an accidental hit, born out of need, to a wardrobe classic, with some rock n' roll connotations in-between...

THE ULTIMATE 'IT' JACKET

We've got a lot of love for the leather biker jacket. Making everything you throw it over look effortlessly cool, it's relied on by stylish women the world over day and night, but it wasn't always that way. Here's how the leather biker became fashion's most-wanted jacket...

BIKER BEGINNINGS

The history of the leather biker dates way back to 1928 in New York City. Designer and manufacturer Irving Schott created the first ever motorcycle jacket, named the Perfecto (after Schott's favourite cigar). A practical piece, it featured the first metal zipper on a coat and an asymmetric fastening to ensure the jacket wouldn't dig into motorcycle riders' bodies. Marlon Brando wore the Perfecto in 1954 cult classic The Wild One, cementing its Hollywood rebel status. It was banned in many US schools because of its 'hoodlum' connotations. James Dean, perhaps the most famous hoodlum of all, lived in one.

THE ULTIMATE PUNK PIECE

In the 1970s, British Punks made the leather biker their uniform, embellishing them with pins and paint. The Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious and girlfriend Nancy Spungen were rarely seen out of them, with urban legend claiming Vicious requested to be buried in his.

CULT MOVIE COOL

The leather biker was the jacket of choice for bad boy Danny Zuko in Grease and was used as a sartorial tool for illustrating the transformation of goody-two-shoes Sandy. Who can forget the final scene where Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta drive off into the sunset in matching leather jackets...? (Surely the inspiration behind Posh & Becks' his'n'hers leather moment 20 years later).

1980s ICONS

Blondie singer Debbie Harry made the classic biker her style staple, working a loose style that looked like she'd just pulled her boyfriend's coat on. This oversized, worn-in look was all the rage with Hollywood wild childs like Drew Barrymore and Winona Ryder in the 80s.

WEAR EVERYWHERE FASH PACK FAVE

Now, a leather biker is a polished piece of outfit-topping outerwear, loved by everyone from Olivia Culpo to Kim Kardashian. Designed to flatter, a well-cut biker looks just as good with jeans and a t-shirt as an evening dress. We've made our leather biker jackets from the softest lambs leather, and packed them with all the classic details. Buy now, wear forever.

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The leather biker jacket has gone from being an accidental hit, born out of need, to a wardrobe classic, with some rock n' roll connotations in-between... We've got a lot of love for the leather biker jacket.

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ALLSAINTS | Iconic Leather Jackets, Clothing & Accessories

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Shop the ALLSAINTS 2023 collection of leather jackets, clothing & accessories for men & women. Free UK delivery & returns.

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Matte Brand's latest Caution Collection is made from 100% Vegan Leather! As “veganism” is becoming more popular, so are vegan alternatives to traditional materials (e.g., leather) commonly used in the fashion industry. The global faux leather market is set to hit $85 billion by 2025, according to a recent report by Grand View Research (GVR), and we're happy to be contributing to the change!
The latest Caution Collection is available in Black, Moto Blue & White!
Featuring Vegan Leather Pants, Super Crop Tops, Thongs, Jackets & More!