DOES THE NON LEATHER SHOE FIT?
When I was a child, my Mother used to have to drag me, kicking and screaming to Clarks to buy my shoes for school. A reputable children’s footwear store where the appropriate foot measurements can be taken, with a good range of what I considered, frumpy leather shoes, that allowed for the right amount of growth and the right shape so to not distort my feet in any way. My school friends how ever were getting all the latest trends from cheaper places that weren’t made of leather.
From an early age I was told, leather was best, it allows your feet to breath and has the right amount of give as to not distort your feet. That I should consider myself lucky that my parents could afford to buy me leather shoes.
Now with many designer brands that have said no to fur, will leather follow suit?
Vegan Leather is the latest way of describing eco friendly leather look product (remember Pleather) and more brands describing themselves as Vegan or using non leather products is on the rise.
Stella McCartney is famously leading the way in this area and is continually pushing the boundaries to create more sustainable as well as great product.
“By choosing vegetarian leather, we are demonstrating how a luxury fashion brand can push the boundaries to make products that are beautiful, sustainable and cruelty-free. No compromises.”
So after being brought up that non leather was an inferior product how do we feel now about buying it? Can our need to support the environment be greater than the need to buy leather shoes?
If you are a little bit of a Fashionista like me, I guess the answer is yes, as long as it’s a good brand who are excelling in sustainability, innovation with fabrications and a designer label.
So would I wear Stella.. yes, will I now be going out to buy PU Primark footwear… no.
This isn’t a problem for younger generations, the new Millennials and Generation Z don’t think twice about buying PU shoes. High st stores are full of them, they have grown up with it, the materials used aren’t necessarily part of their purchasing decision.
For me, I’m still adjusting in non leather footwear however I now own a few non leather handbags (they are all Stella) and I do draw the line at leather garments, that’s way to much cow skin.
As fur is now off limits for most of the designers, the trend for the last few Autumn Winter seasons is leather, in dresses, coats, tops, shorts etc, animals are still not safe from the fashion industry. But with so may brands now producing good faux leather garments including the high street, there is no need to go down the leather road and pay the leather price. After all it’s sweaty, stretches on your bum and knees and can not be thrown in the washing machine. Here are some of the eco reasons. (Information taken from Stella McCartney website)
Animal Agriculture & Leather
Leather impacts are driven by land use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with animal agriculture, as well as the energy use and water consumption requirements of tanneries.
The FAO estimates that animal agriculture is responsible for between 14.5% and 18% of global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, and 65% of this is from cattle (compared to other animal species).
In the Amazon, around 17% of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years, mostly due to forest conversion for cattle ranching.
The livestock sector is the world’s largest user of agricultural land, through grazing and the use of feed crops.
Where do you stand when it comes to Leather, does the fashionista in you win over or are you already a ‘faux follower’? Let us know your thoughts.