Leather news and archive

New bio-based polyester could solve problem of artificial leather recycling

Artificial leather is indispensable to the fashion industry – it helps avoid using animal leather and is often the base for accessories such as bags, belts and more, which meet the needs of an increasingly vegan clientele. However, opinions on its environmental friendliness are divided – while some welcome the fact that there are versatile...

Fashion

Stella McCartney hosts NYFW "No Leather Ever" campaign with PETA

British luxury womenswear label Stella McCartney has partnered with animal rights organization People for the Protection of Animals (PETA) to reimagine the group’s iconic “I’d Rather Go Naked” during New York Fashion Week. Stella McCartney, known for its ethically minded and sustainable values, unveiled a new display at its flagship store in...

FashionFeatured

Seaweed: A dual solution for fashion's sustainability challenge

In a significant development at the intersection of agriculture and fashion, seaweed is emerging as a potential game-changer in addressing two of the industry's most pressing environmental concerns: sustainable material sourcing and livestock emissions reduction. FutureFeed, an Australian start-up spun out of the Commonwealth Scientific and...

FashionFeatured

Billy Tannery and British Pasture Leather spotlight regenerative British leather

British leather brand Billy Tannery, which has its own small-batch tannery in the Midlands, has collaborated with British Pasture Leather, which sources hides from farms certified by Pasture for Life, to launch a new handbag that showcases regenerative British leather. The ‘Fauna’ marks Billy Tannery’s first handbag and combines its sustainable...

Business |Interview Featured

A year of firsts: How Lié Studio is growing its ‘essentials’ concept

Scandinavian brands have garnered global acclaim for their thoughtful, minimalist approach to fashion and design. It is the same mindset that has been woven into the fibres of accessory brand Lié Studio, an emerging label from Denmark, a country in which it has begun to establish a more prominent physical presence. Such an expansion naturally...

Fashion |Interview Featured

Vegan label and bag maker Melina Bucher: “Leather or plastic is out of the question”

Last year, German luxury bag label Melina Bucher opened its own master bag maker’s workshop, a skilled craft that traditionally specialises in leather processing. What is different, however, is that the young company specialises entirely in vegan and bio-based materials, making it the first and only one of its kind in Germany. The aim is to...

BusinessFeatured

Leather as upcycled waste: A discussion about leather and sustainability

‌In many towns, there is still a tanner’s street, a tanner’s path or a tanner’s alley. But the tanning trade itself has long disappeared from most cities. And with it a lot of knowledge and understanding about how leather is made. But this knowledge would be important to better understand the image problem that leather and leather shoes have...

Business

New leather goods school to open in Haute-Loire, France

Brives-Charensac, a town in the south-central Haute-Loire region in France, is to be the site of a school of excellence in leather goods. According to the local media outlet L'Éveil de la Haute-Loire, in October elected representatives approved a feasibility study for the future school to be located in the Le Puy-en-Velay area. According to...

BusinessFeatured

Student design competition takes leather from the Real World to the Virtual Realm

The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition has collaborated with the Institute of Digital Fashion (IoDF) to introduce a digital wearable experience for the winning design, 'WHIM.' Partnering with Snapchat, the augmented reality (AR) try-on allows users to engage with the design, blending the rich history of...

FashionFeatured

Two companies are breathing new life into leather waste

Design studio INK has partnered with Gen Phoenix, a leading producer of sustainable recycled leather, to offer an exclusive glimpse into the creation of their innovative and eco-friendly leather. Using a tactile animated approach featuring supple and robust CG fibers, INK showcases the possibility of a sustainable and high-end lifestyle. Founded...

Podcast

Podcast: Understanding leather's supply chain

Many will be familiar with the 'Who made your clothes?' campaign. The campaign focuses on bringing attention to the conditions in which clothes are made. With the focus on clothing, leather is still sometimes overlooked. How is leather made and how can it be made as locally as possible and with the least possible harm? Eigendom: Wardrobe Crisis...

Fashion

Apple to stop using leather for its accessories

Apple’s annual event, which took place on the penultimate day of New York Fashion Week, had a surprise announcement. The tech giant said it would ban the use of leather for all its accessories, including watch straps and mobile phone cases. In an effort to meet its net zero emissions goal by 2030, Apple unveiled a new textile called FineWoven, a...