Is faux leather good enough? Luxury fashion brands say yes

After fake fur, the luxury fashion industry has its eyes set on vegan leather. Once deemed as a major fashion faux pas, fake leather is now considered a luxury material by fashion brands and consumers alike. This explains the increasing use of leather alternatives by big brands like Hermes, Adidas, Lululemon, Gucci and Stella McCartney to name a few.

Vegan or plant-based leather, made from polyurethane, mycelium, pineapple leaves, apple peels, cork, fruit waste, recycled plastic and much more, is finding takers across the fashion supply chain. Companies like MycoWorks, Bolt Threads, Gordini, Frumat and more are reinventing the leather using these sustainable and plant-based means.

Hermes, a brand famous for its leather bags and accessories, has recently partnered with MycoWorks to use its mushroom-based textile Fine Mycellium to create a vegan alternative of its classic Victorian bag. Apparel company Lululemon has also joined hands with MycoWorks to introduce a sustainable range of bags and yoga mats.

German sportswear manufacturer Adidas is all set to give an environment-friendly makeover to its iconic Stan Smiths by remaking it using Mylo, Bolt Threads’ mycelium-based leather. The alternative leather manufacturer created a consortium last year which includes Stella McCartney, Lululemon, Adidas and Kering that owns brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta, to boost the utilisation of leather substitute in their products.