The ultimate guide to vegan leather

Quick summary

Vegan leather used to mean PVC "pleather." Today, it includes traditional plastic-based alternatives like PU (polyurethane) as well as a growing range of plant-based materials made from cactus, apple waste, pineapple leaves, mushrooms, cork and more. Most commercially available plant-based leathers are hybrid materials that combine plant fibres with PU or other binders to improve strength, flexibility and durability.

The current options

Material	Source	Best for	Notes
Cactus leather (Desserto)	Nopal cactus + bio-based polymer	Bags, jackets, shoes	One of the most widely available plant-based leathers. Soft, durable and premium.
Mushroom leather (Mycelium)	Mycelium (mushroom roots)	Bags, footwear	One of the closest alternatives to animal leather in look and feel. Still scaling commercially.
Apple leather	Apple waste from the juice industry	Bags, shoes, watch straps	Gives agricultural waste a second life and has a smooth leather-like finish.
Piñatex	Pineapple leaf fibres	Shoes, bags, jackets	One of the first commercially successful plant-based leather alternatives.
Cork leather	Cork oak bark	Bags, wallets, footwear	Renewable, lightweight and naturally water-resistant. Harvesting cork does not harm the tree.
Recycled rubber	Recycled tyres	Shoes, sandals	Extremely durable and helps divert waste from landfill.
PU (Polyurethane)	Petroleum-based	Bags, shoes, furniture	Plastic-based, but generally considered less environmentally harmful than PVC. Durable and widely used.
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)	Petroleum-based	Cheap pleather	Still found in inexpensive products but increasingly avoided due to its environmental impact.
Washable kraft paper	Wood pulp	Tote bags, wallets	Lightweight, surprisingly durable and recyclable in many cases.

Care notes

Cactus, mushroom, apple and Piñatex

Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Avoid soaking in water.
Store away from prolonged direct sunlight.
Most products have a protective PU coating.

Cork

Naturally water-resistant.
Simply wipe clean with a damp cloth.
No leather conditioner required.

PU

Avoid excessive heat.
Don't iron.
Store away from prolonged direct sunlight to reduce cracking over time.

Where to buy

Bags & Accessories

Studio Beej (cork, cactus)
Arture (cork)
Matt & Nat
Stella McCartney

Shoes

Paaduks
Will's Vegan Shoes
Veja (vegan collection)
Bourgeois Boheme
FAAE
The Alternate

Belts & Wallets

Arture
Studio Beej
Brown Living (marketplace with multiple vegan brands)

Jackets

Will's Vegan Shoes
Stella McCartney
Selected H&M collections (check material composition carefully)

Indian vegan brands using alternative materials

Studio Beej
Arture
Malai Eco (coconut leather)
Paaduks
Zouk
Miri
Pine & Drew
Sarjaa
The Gusto
Aulive

International pioneers

Stella McCartney
Matt & Nat
Will's Vegan Shoes
Bourgeois Boheme
Veja (vegan collection)
Desserto (cactus leather innovator)
Piñatex (pineapple leather innovator)

The honest sustainability ranking

If you care about both animals and the planet:

Second-hand products > New vegan leather > New conventional leather

Within vegan leather:

Plant-based leathers with lower plastic content > PU leather > PVC leather

And regardless of the material:

Repair what you own before replacing it. Buying less and using products for longer has one of the biggest environmental benefits.

Things to look for before buying

Check whether the product is actually vegan.
Look for brands that disclose the percentage of plant content.
Remember that higher plant content generally means less plastic, but durability also matters.
Look for recycled linings, recycled hardware and transparent supply chains.
Prioritise quality over quantity.

Common myths

"Plant leather is plastic-free." Not usually. Most commercial plant-based leathers contain PU or another binder to improve durability.

"Vegan leather always falls apart." Not anymore. High-quality PU and modern plant-based materials can last for many years when properly cared for.

"Real leather is a natural by-product." Leather production is resource-intensive and relies on energy-intensive tanning processes. It also contributes to the environmental impacts associated with animal agriculture.