WHAT IS VEGAN LEATHER?

There are many negative impacts from the conventional leather industry including cruel farming practices, the health and safety of factory workers and carbon emissions. For many years leather was a by-product from the meat industry and was traditionally used for clothing and accessories due to its durable quality. However, currently in a world with fast fashion, the large-scale production of this material is having a much bigger impact on people and the planet.

WHAT IS VEGAN LEATHER?

Today, there are many ethical and sustainable alternatives to conventional animal sourced leather. They have been developed and have a better impact on the environment and don’t involve the harming of any animals.

At KEEPER Denim this is very important to us, which is why we chose not use conventional leather on our jeans. Instead, our brand patch on the back of each pair of our jeans is made from a material called jacron. Jacron is made from cellulose and is a great alternative as it looks very similar to leather, but is made without harming animals.

That is why our KEEPER Denim jeans have recently received the PETA-Approved Vegan certification. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organisation in the world. This certification confirms that our jeans are made without any animal products, so they are free from materials such as leather, silk, wool and cashmere.

Check out the list below of some other incredible vegan leather alternatives:

APPLE LEATHER

Apple Leather is made from the apple skins that are a by-product from both the juice and cider industry. In addition to apple leather being able to replace conventional leather for a variety of fashion accessories.

BANANATEX®

Bananatex® is a waterproof fabric made from Abacá banana plants, which are organically grown in the Philippines. To date, this fabric has been used to make fashion accessories, including handbags.

CORK

Similar to conventional leather, cork is durable and water resistant, however it is also recyclable and easy to keep clean. Cork is a natural fibre which comes from cork oak trees, the bark is harvested from the trees, however the trees continue to love and grow, helping to reduce deforestation.

JACRON

Jacron is made from cellulose and is a vegan alternative to leather, made without the use of animals. It is most commonly used for brand patches on jeans given its strength and ability to withstand washes, which is why we chose to use it on our KEEPER Denim jeans!

MYLO™

Mylo™ looks and feels like conventional leather, however it is made from Mycelium, the fungus part of a mushroom that grows underground. It is biodegradable and can be produced in a number of days, rather than years, minimising the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

Piñatex®

Piñatex® is a vegan alternative to leather made from pineapple leaves. The finished material is soft, durable and flexible and can be used for a wide range of products including fashion accessories and furniture.

VEGEA

Vegea also known as wine/grape leather is an environmentally friendly, cruelty-free alternative to conventional leather. It is made from the grape skins, seeds and stalks that are discarded during the wine production process.

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