This is both disturbing and unsurprising given just how important sustainability is to today’s consumer. Recent data reveals that 78% of global consumers say that environmental sustainability is important to them and 84% say poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand.
“I want to encourage all the major retailers to bridge the gap between the way they’ve been doing business to adopting these brands that are already inherently more sustainable.”So, when you wrap yourself in that cozy ¾ zip fleece pullover, you’re actually enveloping yourself in chemicals. “You could bury one of our jackets in your backyard,” says Caroline Priebe, Driftless Goods’ founder and creative director, “and within 3 months it will return to the earth as nutrients.”While most brands have started using plastic coated leather, there are industry disruptors offering luxury leather goods that both respect animal life and keep harmful chemicals out of the water supply.“There are so many bad things about using plastic in leather production,” says Elizabeth Goodwin Wellborn.
And what about vegan leather? “People who are buying vegan leather think they’re doing something good but they’re not,” says Sheldon. Luxury leather leggings designer Daryl Kerrigan agrees. “Vegan leather is plastic, and it doesn’t last. Within 2 years it’s getting sticky and peeling.”brand are made from lamb leather and are strictly a byproduct of the food supply. And you won’t find them in the landfill after two years. “My leggings last 10-15 years,” the designer says.