Leather in Fashion: Navigating Debates Through Transparency and Digital Innovation
Mar 13, 2025
3
min reading
Leather-after-leather. That's what was showcased in the recent Hermès Fall Show at Paris Fashion Week on March 8.
The exhibition highlighted the brand's long and well-known heritage in leatherworking, resulting in a runway dominated by it—from accessories to clothing, all masterfully crafted.
This event is another evidence that leather not only was, but still is a staple in fashion for generations, continuing to take center stage on fashion runways and in industry trends.
Leather was crucial throughout human history, from its use in early societies for survival to its status in high fashion, with key moments that established its importance. We can all recall the iconic biker jacket from the 50s, the famous Hermès' Birkin bags, and the daring leather pants that defined rock-and-roll fashion in the 80s.
As of 2025, leather is still very much in vogue. Of course, leather is timeless, adaptable, and capable of exceptional quality.
Yet, despite its strong presence, it has experienced a roller-coaster of discussions throughout the years, facing significant backlash from environmental and ethical communities while being defended by its advocates.
Four years ago, Vogue (citing data from the global fashion search platform Lyst) reported that searches for "vegan leather" were increasing by 69 percent year-on-year, indicating that, there has been—for a while now—active efforts and discussions to find alternatives that maintains the visual charm of leather while tackling ethical issues.
So, today, what can we say about leather? Is it sustainable? Is it ethical? Should the fashion industry move away from it or find new ways to produce it responsibly?
Keep reading to explore both sides of this debate and see how smart connections are turning big challenges into real solutions.
Leather in Animal Rights & Sustainability Debates
In 2016, PETA was already advocating for vegan alternatives on its blog, showcasing options like cactus leather. This highlights how environmental and animal rights groups, along with other sustainability advocates, have long condemned traditional leather for its ties to animal cruelty and environmental harm.
"More than a billion animals re cruelly slaughtered for their skins every year. As a co-product of the meat industry, leather contributes to the environmental destruction caused by animal agriculture—which is among the leading culprits of the climate catastrophe," stated PETA’ article.
These concerns have influenced the fashion community, and further data highlights the environmental impact of leather production:
Researches has shown that around 80% of Amazon deforestation is linked to cattle ranching, the primary source of leather.
Saltie crocodile numbers dropped to just 3,000 before a hunting ban was introduced in 1971.
The Animal Welfare in Fashion Report 2020 by FOUR PAWS estimates that over 2 billion animals are used in the global fashion industry every year.
And the ethical issues extend beyond environmental and animal welfare concerns. Previous investigations have revealed exploitative labor practices in the leather industry, with reports of worker mistreatment in tanneries.
While these issues are important, some industry members dispute the idea that all leather alternatives are genuinely sustainable.
A key point of discussion revolves around the contradiction of substituting animal leather with plastic alternatives (popularly called “pleather”), which were initially promoted as a better solution for being vegan, but have now been shown to have a huge environmental impacts of their own.
Considering plastic’s fossil fuel origins, the release of microplastics during pleather’s use, and its inability to decompose at the end of its lifecycle, pleather is often far worse for the environment than traditional leather. - Elsie McDowell, Varsity Writer
Likewise, plant-based alternatives have also faced criticism regarding their sustainability claims.
A 2021 Vogue article highlighted that "while these [plant-based] alternatives are a significant improvement over the plastic-based fake leathers of the past, they still rely on chemical processing to give them a leather-like feel and durability, presenting environmental problems of their own."
Additionally, some argue that real animal leather is more sustainable than its alternatives, as it is considered a byproduct of the meat industry (meaning that using animal hides for fashion and accessories helps reduce waste that would otherwise end up in landfills) and is more durable, outlasting synthetic alternatives by years or even decades, leading to a lower overall environmental impact.
In sum, this viewpoint suggests that leather itself is not inherently unsustainable; rather, its environmental impact depends on production methods, a concern that also applies to other so-called sustainable alternatives.
It’s an ongoing dialogue. The talk around leather reveals a complex landscape with compelling arguments on all sides, and as fashion moves forward, the industry and its stakeholders still face the challenge of navigating these competing considerations to develop truly balanced solutions.
The Future of Leather: What Is the Right Path?
Fashion's greatest challenges rarely have simple solutions. So, in face of this discussions, rather than seeking perfect alternatives, perhaps the industry’s focus should shift toward improving transparency, production methods, and supply chain practices across all materials.
The future of fashion may not lie in choosing between traditional or alternative materials, but in revolutionizing how all materials are sourced, produced, and eventually recycled or biodegraded.
This integration of sustainable innovation with global sourcing networks represents the kind of balanced solution the industry needs—where technological advancement, environmental consciousness, and industry collaboration converge to create fashion that's both beautiful and responsible
This evolution is already visible through forward-thinking textile suppliers like Junteng Group, who have been establishing environmentally friendly synthetic leather with bio-based solutions since 2003.
Junteng's mission reflects this balanced strategy; they stay closely aware of changing consumer needs while also striving to reduce their environmental impact through efforts like carbon reduction, waste recovery, and recycling initiatives.
World Collective's marketplace serves as the crucial bridge in this transformation, connecting brands with suppliers who are already pushing boundaries and investing on products with a more positive impact.
If you want to learn how technology can provide your brand with a competitive advantage in this changing landscape, continue reading here.
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Written By Maria Eugênia Lima, Content & Marketing Intern at World Collective
