As a nonvegan, I never really gave a second thought to the idea of using leather products. Besides the vegan alternatives never really seemed to hold up. I mean, squeaky pleather pants and bags that peeled didn’t hold up to the quality I saw in leather. In a debate of the ethics of using animal products, my refrain had been, “But what do you have that is better?” Enter the ingenuity of Stella McCartney.
Known for her stance against using animal-based products, McCartney has seriously been working towards alternatives to the ever present leather used in the fashion industry. Recently, in partnership with champagne producer Veuve Clicquot, she debuted a new vegan leather product made from grapes. The grape stems used are those that would be normally discarded from the winemaking process.
Honestly, though I have not yet seen it in person, these images portray the most leather looking vegan leather I’ve seen. But of course, it remains to be seen how these products will hold up over time. While I would love to see a more sustainable choice in the industry, I wonder if this will be answer.
Source:
Conti, S., (November 25, 2023). EXCLUSIVE: Stella McCartney, Veuve Clicquot Create ‘Leather’ From Champagne Waste. WWD. https://wwd.com/sustainability/materials/stella-mccartney-veuve-clicquot-create-leather-champagne-waste-1235951233/
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