How to shop for leather responsibly

Bottega Venetta AW19

From sumptuous trench coats to quilted motorcycle jackets, luxurious suiting and enormous woven totes, the autumn/winter runways were laden with butter-soft leather, worn head-to-toe. But with environmental issues now front and centre when it comes to how we eat, dress and travel, Vogue asks: how do you tackle 2019’s biggest fashion trend with a clearer conscience?

Buy animal-free leather

As a luxury brand, Stella McCartney is unequivocal about the vegetarian fashion credentials they established back in 2001: “We never use leather, skin, fur or feathers.” The material they do use is alter-nappa, made from polyester and polyurethane, together with a recycled polyester backing - an innovation motivated not only by concerns for animal welfare, but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution caused by the leather industry. It’s a stance that is now shared by a swathe of upscale labels who prioritise an animal-free route to leather.


New York-based Orseund Iris offers edgy, year-round street-style drops of club-ready ruched bralets and zip-through jackets that dismiss any hippified connotations of vegan leather. While Ukrainian designer, Iana Kuznietsova’s brand, Ochi (stocked at Net-A-Porter) has your workwear wardrobe covered with tailored faux-leather trench coats in sorbet and caramel hues.


For neat staples that work on and off-duty, Hungarian label Nanushka’s crisp shirting, midi-dresses and minimalist slippers (you can’t tell they aren’t real leather) come with an added perk. Not only are they cruelty free, but all of Nanushka’s vegan leather shirts and trousers are washable at 30 degrees. The label’s founder Sandra Sandor - a Budapest-based London College of Fashion grad - has prioritised the sustainability of her designs since she launched Nanushka in 2006, incorporating vegan leather in 2016. It’s a decision that paid off: the quilted vegan leather puffer jacket that you’ve probably spotted on your Instagram feed remains one of their bestsellers.

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