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VEGETABLE ? TANNED LEATHER (THE LEATHER WE USE) |
CHROME ? TANNED LEATHER (~90% OF ALL LEATHER USED NOWADAYS |
VEGAN LEATHER (ALSO KNOWN AS PLEATHER, SYNTHETIC, ECO, FAUX/FAKE LEATHER) |
PRODUCTION |
?Uses organic materials, such as tree bark; ?Dyed by hand | ?Uses chemicals, acidic salts and toxic heavy metal chromium; ?Dyed by machines | ?Uses chloride and carbons, which comes from oil/gas/petrol; ?Dyed by machines |
SMELL |
?Classic leather smell that is intoxicating absolutely addictive | ?Often has a chemical smell | ?Can smell of chemicals or plastic, sometimes described as "fishy" smell |
WEAR |
?Long-lasting and very durable ?Develops a beautiful patina ?Softens over time ?Breathes easily | ?Does not wear well gradually losing appearance over time; ?Less breathable | ?Doesn’t last as long as real leather and can crack; ?Isn’t breathable |
SUSTAINABILITY |
?Fibres removed from the hides are recycled to make agricultural fertiliser and waste from the depuration process is recycled to create bricks for the construction industry | ?Lack of regulations mean that the sustainability aspect varies greatly between tanneries; ?Toxic wastewater can seep into the ground and affect soil and groundwater supplies | ?PVC takes upwards of 500 years, and even then, it breaks down into little micro-beads which get washed into our oceans |