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Vegetable leather, faux leather, “vegan leather”… it’s not easy to find your way around when you’re looking for eco-friendly sneakers ! Mood Walk explains the difference between all these names and helps you find the pair of women’s sneakers that are made for you.
Animal leather sneakers or vegetable leather sneakers: what’s the difference?
What is leather?
Used for the manufacture of many products or clothing, leather is none other than the skin of an animal. By definition, leather is therefore of animal origin. To ensure that the leather does not deteriorate over time, it undergoes a tanning process: an operation that consists of soaking the skins for several days in a mixture of water and tannins. Most often, this is a substance based on mineral products such as chromium sulfate.
Women's vegetable leather sneakers: a misleading expression?
Contrary to what one might believe, vegetable leather is not made of plants or organic materials. It is an animal leather whose tanning is carried out not with products of mineral origin, but with plant products such as bark, roots or even fruits. The term "vegetable" therefore only refers to tanning. If you are looking for eco-responsible sneakers, respectful of both animals and the environment, the best thing is to opt for women's sneakers in "vegan leather".
“Vegan leather” sneakers: why choose “corn leather” for eco-responsible sneakers?
What is “vegan leather”?
A vegan product is a product that is free of animal-based components and has not been tested on animals. The term “ vegan leather ” is therefore a misnomer. But with the emergence of veganism and the desire to defend animal rights, the term has become commonplace to refer to alternatives to real leather. Made from synthetic or plant-based materials, “vegan leather” is the solution for a sustainable future.
Today, there are several possible alternatives to animal leather for vegan sneakers such as “pineapple leather”, “corn leather”, “apple leather” or even “grape leather” (enough to make a good fruit salad ;) )
Eco-friendly sneakers: what are the advantages of “corn leather”?
Among the best innovative materials, “corn leather” is the ideal choice for eco-friendly sneakers . Every year, 4.4 million tons of corn are wasted. This unused corn therefore represents an excellent natural resource.
Although its appearance is very similar to real leather, its manufacturing process is environmentally friendly and respectful of animals. Its many advantages make it a recognized material for the manufacture of women's sneakers. Soft, resistant and aesthetic, “corn leather” offers unique comfort while reducing carbon emissions. In addition, “corn leather” has breathable properties, which allows air to circulate better through the sneakers.
Discover ourvegan women's sneakers made from corn leather : made in a neighboring country, Portugal, our eco-responsible sneakers are made from non-food corn and without pesticides: ethical and customizable shoes to finally feel good in your sneakers!
And what about faux leather sneakers?
Obtained from synthetic materials, imitation leather is very often mainly based on PVC or polyurethane (PU). Unlike eco-responsible sneakers made from “corn leather”, imitation leather shoes are generally mainly made with polluting products. It is therefore not necessarily the most ecological choice! Before opting for women's imitation leather sneakers , it is therefore advisable to find out about their origin to check their carbon impact and ensure that no material is tested or comes from an animal.
