Popsugar Fashion Street Style A Guide to Vegan Leather: How It's Made and Where to Shop It Curious About Vegan Leather? Here's What You Need to Know 16 June 2020 by Morgane Le Caer Image Source: Getty / Christian Vierig As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Vegan leather (also called faux leather) has, admittedly, not always had the best of reputations among fashion enthusiasts. But as the appetite for more sustainable practices continues to grow, more and more brands and designers have once again started working with the material. Perhaps once regarded as glorified plastic — and a cheap way to recreate some of our favourite '90s looks — faux leather has been transformed over the past few years. Now one of the most talked about fabrics within the sustainability sphere, vegan leather is used by some of the most reputable sustainable brands and boutiques out there, and it's easy to see why. A far cry from what it used to be, faux leather looks and feels nearly identical to the real thing, so it's become pretty difficult to tell the difference between the two materials. And with the leather look being one of the biggest trends of 2020, the industry's newfound love for the vegan option couldn't have come at a better time. Ahead, keep reading to learn more about what vegan leather is, where it comes from, and understand the differences between the material and its real counterpart. And if you're looking to add more vegan leather pieces to your wardrobe, we've also included some of our favourite styles for you to shop, too. Related: 3 Easy-but-Stylish Ways I'm Wearing the Leather Trend in 2020 What Is Vegan Leather, and Where Does It Come From? Image Source: Getty / Melodie Jeng Vegan leather is a material that mimics real leather, but that is created from either synthetic or plant-based materials instead of animal skins. Also called "faux" or "synthetic" leather, vegan leather is most commonly made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), two plastic polymers that help give the crinkled effect of real leather. Over the past few years, however, PVC and PU have been falling out of favour due to the environmental challenges they can present, and have started being replaced by more sustainable materials that can be made out of natural resources such as pineapple leaves, apple peels, other fruit waste, recycled plastic, and cork. What’s the Difference Between Vegan Leather and Real Leather? Image Source: Getty / Claudio Lavenia The principal difference between the two fabrics is that genuine leather is made from animal skins, while faux leather is made from synthetic or plant-based materials before being treated and dyed to create the colour and texture. Due to its nature, real leather is unique and often features inconsistent pores and marks, while faux leather, as a man-made fabric, tends to be uniform. Durability is also something that needs to be taken into account when weighing up the pros and cons between the two fabrics: when cared for properly, real leather can last for years, if not decades, while faux leather is generally a bit more delicate. Where to Shop For Vegan Leather Pieces Image Source: Getty / Christian Vierig Shopping for good quality, faux leather pieces has never been so easy. While several high-end brands such Stella McCartney and Nanushka are renowned for their sustainability practices and use of faux leather, a whole host of other labels have also started using the material. Brands like Zara, H&M, Dr. Martens, Topshop and ASOS are now all offering vegan leather options within their collections. Frankie Shop Black Leather Cargo Pants Image Source: thefrankieshop.com Frankie Shop Black Leather Cargo Pants (£166) Frankie Shop Black Leather Cargo Pants £166 from thefrankieshop.com Buy Now Our Vegan Leather Picks Image Source: drmartens.com Dr Martens Vegan 1460 Lace Up Boots (£149) Dr Martens Vegan 1460 Lace Up Boots £149 from drmartens.com Buy Now Stella McCartney x Adidas Originals Stan Smith Vegan Leather Sneakers Stella McCartney x Adidas Originals Stan Smith Vegan Leather Sneakers (£141, originally £235) Stella McCartney x Adidas Originals Stan Smith Vegan Leather Sneakers £141 from net-a-porter.com Buy Now Studio Amelia Croc-Effect Vegan Leather Sandals Image Source: Net-a-Porter.com Studio Amelia Croc-Effect Vegan Leather Sandals ($320) Studio Amelia Croc-Effect Vegan Leather Sandals $320 from net-a-porter.com Buy Now Veja x Rick Owens Vegan Leather and Suede Sneakers Image Source: Net-a-Porter.com Veja x Rick Owens Vegan Leather and Suede Sneakers ($290) Veja x Rick Owens Vegan Leather and Suede Sneakers $290 from net-a-porter.com Buy Now H&M Faux Leather Mules Image Source: www2.hm.com H&M Faux Leather Mules ($30) H&M Faux Leather Mules $30 from www2.hm.com Buy Now Nanushka Cancun Vegan Leather Fitted Blazer Nanushka Cancun Vegan Leather Fitted Blazer ($585) Nanushka Cancun Vegan Leather Fitted Blazer $585 from net-a-porter.com Buy Now ASOS Design Ultimate Faux Leather Biker Jacket Image Source: asos.com ASOS Design Curve Ultimate Faux Leather Biker Jacket ($56) ASOS Design Curve Ultimate Faux Leather Biker Jacket $56 from asos.com Buy Now Zara Faux Leather Jacket Image Source: zara.com Zara Faux Leather Jacket ($70) Zara Faux Leather Jacket $70 from zara.com Buy Now BB Dakota Just Ride Vegan Leather Jacket Image Source: shopbop.com BB Dakota Just Ride Vegan Leather Jacket ($49, originally $98) BB Dakota Just Ride Vegan Leather Jacket $49 from shopbop.com Buy Now Mango Violeta Zipped Faux Leather Biker Jacket Image Source: shop.mango.com Mango Violeta Zipped Faux Leather Biker Jacket ($80, originally $120) Mango Violeta Zipped Faux Leather Biker Jacket $80 from shop.mango.com Buy Now Stella McCartney Logo Bucket Bag Image Source: stellamccartney.com Stella McCartney Logo Bucket Bag ($715) Stella McCartney Logo Bucket Bag $715 from stellamccartney.com Buy Now JW Pei Gabbi Bag Image Source: jwpei.co.uk JW Pei Gabbi Bag ($88) JW Pei Gabbi Bag $88 from jwpei.co.uk Buy Now Bare Boheme Charlotte Tote Image Source: bareboheme.com Bare Boheme Charlotte Tote ($78, originally $128) Bare Boheme Charlotte Tote $78 from bareboheme.com Buy Now Mashu Amaryllis Bag Image Source: mashu.co.uk Mashu Amaryllis Bag ($363) Mashu Amaryllis Bag $363 from mashu.co.uk Buy Now Topshop Eve Faux Leather Shoulder Bag Image Source: shop.nordstrom.com Topshop Eve Faux Leather Shoulder Bag ($48) Topshop Eve Faux Leather Shoulder Bag $48 from shop.nordstrom.com Buy Now Street StyleShoppingFashion TrendsFashion ShoppingShoppableLeatherEco Fashion