What is Vegan Leather | What is Vegetarian Leather? (2026)

Vegan leather is a term that refers to materials made to appear like natural leather but do not originate from animal hides. Most commonly, they are made of polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl plastic (PVC/vinyl), though advances in technology are yielding a growing range of vegan leathers made from 100% natural or plant-based sources such as grapes, pineapple leaves, mushroom mycelium, and cork. Research confirms that vegan leathers now occupy a broad and heterogeneous category rather than a single material class, with each variant carrying its own performance profile, environmental footprint, and end-of-life characteristics (Meyer et al., 2021; Kefale et al., 2023).

Key Takeaways

• Vegan leather is a synthetic or plant-based alternative designed to mimic real leather without using animal hides, most commonly made from PU or PVC.

• It is cheaper, easier to produce, and highly customizable, but is generally less durable and tends to crack or degrade faster than real leather.

• While some plant-based options like Piñatex, mushroom leather, and cork exist, most vegan leather still relies heavily on plastics with environmental trade-offs.

• Compared to real leather, vegan leather lacks breathability, does not develop patina, and typically has a much shorter lifespan.

• Although it appeals for ethical and cost reasons, frequent replacement and chemical use can make vegan leather less sustainable in the long run.

What is Vegetarian Leather?

Vegetarian leather, also known as faux leather, is a leather alternative that is not made from the hide of animals or animal skin. It looks and feels like ordinary leather but is made out of a variety of plastics and other materials. The best way to explain vegetarian leather is to describe it as a vegan leather alternative. This type of artificial leather is made from a synthetic leather material designed to look and feel like real leather. Vegetarian leather is not made from animal skin but rather from a combination of materials, including polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. It is not an actual leather byproduct and is not made from leather scraps leftover from the tanning process. The difference between real leather and vegetarian leather is that real leather comes from the skin of an animal, while vegetarian leather is manufactured using synthetic or plant-derived materials.

What is Vegan Leather and How is Vegan Leather Made?

There are a variety of materials used in the making of this type of leather. The process is completely different from the production of real leather since no real animal hides are involved. Two common materials used in making vegetarian leather include PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinylchloride). The broad and growing family of vegan leathers now also incorporates non-animal, plant- or fungus-based feedstocks, illustrating the shift from purely petroleum-based substitutes to bio-based and renewable inputs (Meyer et al., 2021; Bustillos et al., 2020).

Mixing

The plastic composition for the vegan leather is mixed and prepared. The elements in the thick liquid mix can differ based on the intended use of the product. Ingredients that protect the product from the sun may be added, and flame-retardant components might also be mixed in at this stage. Color is another significant component introduced at this step. Vegan leather can be made in practically any color possible. The dyes are added to mechanical mixing bins in the proper amounts, mixing with the plastics and additives to form a thick, liquid mixture ready for the next stage. In many cases, color is added later as an additional layer during extrusion. The plastics most commonly used are polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), also referred to as vinyl.

Extrusion

When blended, the vegan leather liquid is extruded onto a flat backing either by gravity and pouring or by machines that press the material out uniformly. Support is required as the leather substitute product needs a stable place to dry and adhere to in order to take its final shape. The backing is typically made from paper or fiber such as cotton or polyester. It can also be made from a mesh of fiber, plastic, or metal. When the plastic is extruded onto the backing in an even layer, it is set to dry. The backing choice is often based on the planned use of the finished product. For example, bookbinders might use bonded leather with a paper or fabric support, while upholstery workers might use vegan leather on a polyester backing. Heat can be used to assist the drying process, and extra layers can be added if a thicker product is desired.

Stamping, Embossing, and Printing

Once colored, the vegan leather can have a surface texture applied to make it resemble the natural grain of animal leather or to emboss a preferred design. Unlike stamping natural leather, which often covers surface flaws, stamping vegan leather is purely cosmetic. Various textures may be chosen depending on what kind of goods the material will be used for, and surface colorings may also be printed onto the vegan leather for an antique appearance, a logo, or other stylistic touches. Typically, a protective surface coating is applied to preserve the printing, texture, and color.

Finishing

Once stamped or embossed, vegan leather is finished with an artificial surface protectant that can supply a shiny appearance and offer a protective layer. These finishes are typically a transparent polymer that resists water and scratches or abrasions. Surfaces can also include fragrances that help vegan leather smell similar to natural leather. Because the underlying material and surface protectants are manufactured, they can add numerous performance qualities, and since the surfaces and materials are plastics, they are usually very water-resistant or waterproof.

Different Types of Vegan Leathers

The vegan-leather landscape is notably diverse, encompassing materials ranging from petroleum-based polymers to plant- and fungus-derived alternatives. This diversity means that vegan leathers should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than treated as a monolithic category (Meyer et al., 2021; Kefale et al., 2023).

Vegan Leather Made from PVC

PVC is a common affordable plastic compound comprising carbon and chloride, softened by a variety of chemicals and acids to produce the final product. PVC is not eco-friendly and is considered one of the most harmful plastics to the environment. It can take up to 450 years longer to decompose than traditional leather. The manufacture and disposal of PVC-based synthetics release hazardous dioxins, which can trigger developmental and reproductive issues and even cancer (Meyer et al., 2021). These end-of-life challenges complicate circular economy goals for PVC-based vegan leathers (Flowers and Flowers, 2024).

Vegan Leather Made from PU (Polyurethane)

Polyurethane (PU) is a less harmful synthetic material and is more commonly used to make vegan leather due to its comparatively better environmental profile versus PVC. Polyurethane is made by adding adhesive to polyester fabrics and, like PVC leather, involves a mixture of plastic chemicals and petroleum compounds. It is more leather-like than PVC and features fewer layers. While still more expensive than PVC, PU leather is considered a better option, with ongoing research into improving its suitability for various applications (Meyer et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2024). However, it is important to note that even PU-based vegan leathers can involve significant chemical processing with environmental implications that require careful life-cycle assessment (Kefale et al., 2023).

Vegetarian Leather Made from Pinatex

Pinatex is made from the waste parts of the pineapple plant through a process called decortication, which extracts long fibers from pineapple leaves. These fibers are dried in the sun or in ovens during the rainy season, then purified to form a fluff-like material, which is mixed with a corn-based polylactic acid to create Pinafelt, a non-woven mesh substance that forms the base of Pinatex products. Research on pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) leather has demonstrated competitive tensile properties, and PALF-based leathers can be engineered with natural rubber matrices to tailor softness, strength, and flexibility (Duangsuwan et al., 2023). Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) as an adhesion promoter has been shown to improve interfacial bonding and mechanical performance in PALF-based systems, illustrating the potential for agricultural by-products to contribute to lower-carbon, renewable leather substitutes (Duangsuwan et al., 2023). Pinatex has also shown meaningful disintegration and biodegradability under composting conditions, distinguishing it from many synthetic-based leathers (Flowers and Flowers, 2024). The best thing about Pinatex is that, unlike most other vegan leather materials, it is plant-based and can achieve 100% biodegradability under the right end-of-life conditions.

Vegan Leather Made from Wine

Made by the Italian company Vegea, wine leather is made from the by-products of wine processing, collectively known as pomace. The production of this type of leather involves no harmful chemicals and wastes no water. Considering how large the wine industry is, with around 27 billion liters of wine produced annually, the potential volume of wine leather is very large. Vegea represents a notable example of the broader circular-economy shift within fashion toward the use of food industry by-products as leather feedstocks (GAZZOLA et al., 2021). This innovation started in 2018 and is very promising as a next-generation vegan leather.

Vegan Leather Made from Mushrooms

Mushroom leather, also known as Muskin, is derived from mycelium, which is the underground root structure of mushrooms. It is one of the more flexible and robust natural vegan leathers, and its advanced production is even used in applications like brick making. Research has confirmed that mycelium-based leathers can exhibit favorable mechanical properties along with inherent antifungal and antibacterial attributes arising from their natural composition (Bustillos et al., 2020). Mycelium leathers are also inherently biodegradable, making them well-suited for circular-economy goals (Elsacker et al., 2023). However, their mechanical performance, long-term durability, and scalability remain active research questions, with reported tensile properties and aging behavior varying by species, substrate, and post-processing (Bustillos et al., 2020; Sharma et al., 2025). Fungal biotechnology, including mycelium leather production, is increasingly positioned within circular economy frameworks as a means to grow materials with reduced carbon footprints (Meyer et al., 2020). Mushroom leather is already being used to make vegan handbags, vegan leather shoes, and vegan leather bags, though the consensus in the scientific literature is that mycelium leathers are promising but not yet universally substitutive for all leather applications (Elsacker et al., 2023; Majib et al., 2024).

Vegetarian Leather Made from Cork

Cork leather is a plant-based leather made from the bark of Cork Oak Trees that grow in the Mediterranean region. After harvesting, the cork is left to air dry for up to six months, then boiled and steamed to gain elasticity. Continuous heat and pressure are applied to press the cork into blocks, which are then sliced into thin sheets that can be transformed into a multitude of cork leather accessories. The best thing about this manufacturing process is that it does not involve any chemicals, making it eco-friendly. Cork leather has even been turned into a vegan leather jacket free of plastic. Cork exemplifies how plant-based feedstocks can produce leather alternatives with favorable environmental profiles, though life-cycle assessments of specific processing steps are still important for credible sustainability claims (Henninger et al., 2023).

Cactus Leather (Desserto)

Among the newer entrants in the bio-based leather space is Desserto, a cactus-derived leather alternative. Made from the Nopal cactus plant in Mexico, Desserto is noted in the literature as a representative example of plant-derived leather substitutes that illustrate the industry-driven shift toward sustainable feedstocks and alternative processing (GAZZOLA et al., 2021; Wood, 2019). Like other bio-based alternatives, its overall environmental benefit depends on the full supply chain, processing energy, and end-of-life pathway.

Is Vegan Leather Better Than Real Leather?

While some vegans and vegetarians have a moral objection to the leather industry, many simply choose alternative materials because they are lower in cost or perceived as better for the environment. However, the environmental profile of vegan leather is complex and material-specific. Although vegan leathers avoid animal hides and tanning effluents, many rely on plastics or polymer matrices or involve significant chemical processing, which can entail environmental harms such as persistent plastics, phthalates, and energy-intensive steps (Meyer et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2024). Bio-based or plant-based leathers such as Pinatex, Vegea, Desserto, and Muskin may offer improvements in feedstock sustainability but still require careful life-cycle assessment to avoid shifting burdens elsewhere, such as agricultural inputs and solvents (Kefale et al., 2023).

Quality and resilience are also crucial when comparing vegan and real leather. Vegan leather is typically a lot thinner than real leather and much more lightweight, which can make it easier to work with for fashion applications, but it also makes it less resilient. Research confirms that vegan leathers tend to be cheaper to produce in mass and easier to process than genuine leather, explaining their prevalence in fast fashion and mass-market goods, but durability tends to lag behind high-quality full-grain leather, with vegan options requiring replacement more frequently (Meyer et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2024). Real, good-quality leather can last decades when properly maintained, whereas a pair of vegan leather shoes made from even excellent-quality synthetic leather might only last a year or so. This is a crucial factor when deciding between faux leather and real leather, as the environmental effect of repeatedly replacing a fake leather product may be more destructive than purchasing one genuine leather product.

Synthetic leathers also wear out unattractively, whereas real leather ages over time and forms a patina that is considered to give character to the material (Meyer et al., 2021). Synthetic leather, specifically PVC-based, is not breathable, whereas full-grain leather has pores through which skin can breathe, making vegan leather coats uncomfortable when worn for extended periods of time (Meyer et al., 2021; GAZZOLA et al., 2021).

Firms frequently market bio-based vegan leathers as sustainable alternatives, but sustainability claims vary in basis and quantification, and critical scrutiny of how end-of-life, recyclability, and climate impacts are specified is warranted (Henninger et al., 2023). Transparent life-cycle assessments are critical for credible claims, and consumers are encouraged to ask specific questions about material composition and end-of-life pathways before purchasing (Henninger et al., 2023; Wood, 2019).

What Does Vegan Leather Smell Like?

Vegan leather is often referred to as faux leather or pleather. Polyurethane leather is made from a combination of chemicals, usually including polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and other synthetic fibers. The chemicals that help make faux leather can produce a fishy smell that some people find unpleasant. PVC leather can also release toxins that contribute to this odor.

What Does Vegan Leather Look Like?

Vegan leather comes in several different kinds and qualities, so some are much more leather-like than others. Good-quality vegan leather can be visually similar to real natural leather. However, as vegan leather is artificial, it does not develop a patina like real natural leather does when aging, and it is much less breathable since the pores printed onto the surface of pleather are artificial (Meyer et al., 2021).

Is Vegan Leather Good for the Environment?

Synthetic leather is called vegan leather because the product used is never from animal skins. While this is a significant benefit for animal activists, the manufacture of artificial leather is not without environmental costs. The manufacture and disposal of PVC-based synthetics can release hazardous dioxins, which can trigger developmental and reproductive issues and even cancer. The synthetics used in vegan leathers also do not fully biodegrade; they can release poisonous particles and phthalates that can impact the health of animals and the environment (Meyer et al., 2021; Kefale et al., 2023).

End-of-life and circularity considerations are central to evaluating vegan leathers. While some vegan leathers compost well, such as Pinatex under certain conditions, many synthetic-based leathers exhibit poor compostability and long degradation times, complicating circular economy goals (Flowers and Flowers, 2024). The literature emphasizes that circularity claims must be evaluated material-by-material, with explicit end-of-life pathways defined for each vegan leather variant (Flowers and Flowers, 2024; Elsacker et al., 2023). Vegetable-tanned and chromium-free genuine leather can also offer favorable end-of-life characteristics, highlighting the context-dependent nature of circularity in leather alternatives (Flowers and Flowers, 2024).

Maintaining Vegan Leather

As vegan leather is made with a plastic finishing, it is currently waterproof. This makes it much easier to clean using a mild detergent or by simply wiping it with a wet cloth. However, conditioning products cannot penetrate the material to prevent cracking, which can happen if the faux leather is exposed to a lot of sun or is of particularly poor quality. Certain products are available to coat the surface of the plastic to protect it from high temperatures and sun rays. Such products can also help soften the material.

How to Repair Vegan Leather

You can restore a broken area with a vegan leather repair kit available online. These are easy to use and suited to various kinds of synthetic leather. However, if faux leather starts to crack and break apart significantly, there is not much that can be done to fully restore it. This is the unfortunate outcome of using a plastic-based leather.

Is Vegan Leather Good Quality?

Vegan leather can come in different standards of quality. As with real leather, the higher the quality, the longer it will last. Faux leather is generally a lot cheaper and of lower quality compared to real leather even at a high standard. Vegan leather is ultimately much less durable than real leather and tends to be thinner, so it is not uncommon for it to tear or scuff badly over time (Meyer et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2024).

How to Unwrinkle Vegan Leather

It is important that you do not try to iron wrinkled vegan leather by placing the iron directly onto the material. Because artificial pleathers contain plastic, they do not blend well with heat, and it can often ruin the item completely. High-quality faux leathers can be steamed to remove wrinkles if protected with a sheet, towel, or lining, as they are more forgiving with heat. However, care should still be taken, and you should not heat your fake leather for more than 30 seconds.

How to Shrink Vegan Leather

Wash the product in your washing machine on warm to clean the article and prevent any contamination from baking into the plastic material. Put the polyurethane product into an old pillowcase and tie off the top with a shoelace or piece of string to prevent it from falling out. Products like this may get hot enough to adhere to the dryer drum, so take precautions to prevent this. Set the dryer on high and let the cycle run for about an hour. Allow the coat to cool and test fit it, repeating the cycle as needed with progressively shorter drying times.

Can You Stretch Vegan Leather?

Faux leather looks great and is easy to clean, but it stretches much less than real leather. To avoid stretching or the safety risk of the faux leather ripping, only buy products made from genuine leather when durability and stretch resistance are priorities.

Can You Distress Vegan Leather?

Trying to distress faux leather will often result in peeling and cracking. Thick layers will most likely cause the faux leather to crack completely. Care should be taken when using acrylic or fabric paints to create a distressed look, as solvents can damage the material.

How to Dye Vegan Leather

Faux leather is not as permeable as real leather, which means the material cannot absorb colored dye in the same way. Therefore, even after dyeing your faux leather product, the process will most likely need to be repeated throughout the product's lifespan as the color wears off over time. Before dyeing, ensure that the surface is clean and free of dust and debris. Wipe down the product using a soft cloth, then follow up with a clean using pure alcohol for best results. Once clean and dry, the product is ready to be dyed. Test the color first, especially any primer or gloss paint, on an inconspicuous area before applying it everywhere.

How to Soften Vegan Leather

Because faux leather is technically not leather, it is not as porous. It is not necessary to use a conditioner with fake leather. Vinyl conditioners are typically recommended for softer and more resistant fabrics like faux leather. To avoid damaging the material, faux leather products should be gently stretched along the grain when applying a vinyl conditioner. Repeat as needed.

What Leather Should You Be Investing In?

A great deal of news has come out about leather used in fashion and accessories. Real leather is always preferable, but when it comes to vegan versions, they tend to have significant effects on both animals and the environment. If you want to reach for a faux leather bag or another vegan fashion item, make sure it does not contain phthalates or other toxic by-products, and think about the length of time you could realistically use that product. Research demonstrates that price, durability, and consumer expectations favor vegan leathers for certain applications but limit their suitability for others, with durability typically lagging behind high-quality full-grain leather and vegan options requiring replacement more frequently (Meyer et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2024). Full-grain leather goods can last a lifetime, meaning that you will not have to replace them over and over as you would with most vegan leather bags. If you are looking for bags that stand the test of time, explore the full collection of full-grain leather bags at Steel Horse Leather.

Is Vegan Leather Better Than Real Leather? A Final Comparison

Now that we know what vegetarian leather is and where it comes from, you may be wondering whether vegan leather is actually better than real leather. The two main factors to consider when choosing between the two are durability and quality. Vegan leather is certainly much thinner compared to real leather because of the materials used in its making. This might come as an advantage because it is certainly much easier to work with than full-grain leather; however, there is a very large difference in quality (Meyer et al., 2021).

When it comes to durability, real leather is the obvious pick. PU leather is certainly cheaper but may last only up to a year at most. Real leather that is well maintained can last for a very long time, and plastic leather looks unattractive when it wears out, unlike real leather, which develops a much-desired patina that makes it look increasingly attractive over time (Meyer et al., 2021). The diversity of vegan-leather chemistries, from PU and PVC to plant-based polymers and bio-based coatings, means that mechanical properties and breathability vary widely across products, supporting the recommendation that vegan-leather products should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis (Meyer et al., 2021; GAZZOLA et al., 2021).

In conclusion, while vegan leather is touted as a suitable alternative, it is not as durable and long-lasting as full-grain leather. The lesser durability combined with the higher use of chemicals makes it a product of fast fashion. Full-grain leather is meant to last many years and allow you to have one product rather than buying a new one every season. At Steel Horse Leather, we use only the highest quality leathers, such as full-grain leather and our special Crazy Horse Leather, both of which are vegetable-tanned, to make our handmade leather bags. Every product we make is built to last while having a sophisticated, fresh look.

People use our bags for all sorts of things: carrying laptops to work, transporting school books, carrying groceries, or taking purchases home. We started Steel Horse Leather because we love leather bags. We wanted to learn how to make our own leather bags and make them look authentic, to sew well, and to create leather bags that last decades and even generations. We wanted to find a way to offer only the highest quality leather bags that can be passed down for generations.

If you are looking for a rugged everyday companion, browse our leather duffle bags or our versatile leather backpacks for options that combine durability, style, and craftsmanship that no vegan leather alternative can match.

Conclusion

Vegan leather represents an exciting and rapidly evolving category of materials, ranging from conventional PVC and PU synthetics to innovative bio-based alternatives derived from pineapple leaves, mushroom mycelium, grape pomace, cork, and cactus. Each material carries its own performance characteristics, environmental profile, and end-of-life behavior, and none yet fully replicates the durability, breathability, and aging character of high-quality full-grain leather (Meyer et al., 2021; Kefale et al., 2023). While bio-based vegan leathers offer exciting sustainability potential, transparent life-cycle assessments and clear end-of-life pathways are essential before any material can be credibly labeled as a fully sustainable choice (Henninger et al., 2023; Flowers and Flowers, 2024). For consumers who prioritize longevity, craftsmanship, and sustainability in the truest sense of the word, investing in a well-crafted, vegetable-tanned full-grain leather product remains the most sensible choice. Explore our curated collection of leather messenger bags, leather tote bags, and leather work bags to find a piece that will serve you for years to come.

References

Bustillos, J., Loganathan, A., Agrawal, R., Gonzalez, B., Pérez, M., Ramaswamy, S., and Agarwal, A. (2020). Uncovering the mechanical, thermal, and chemical characteristics of biodegradable mushroom leather with intrinsic antifungal and antibacterial properties. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3(5), 3145-3156. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.0c00164

Duangsuwan, S., Junkong, P., Phinyocheep, P., Thanawan, S., and Amornsakchai, T. (2023). Development of green leather alternative from natural rubber and pineapple leaf fiber. Sustainability, 15(21), 15400. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115400

Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., and Peeters, E. (2023). Recent technological innovations in mycelium materials as leather substitutes: A patent review. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1204861

Flowers, K. and Flowers, I. (2024). Material circular bioeconomy: Disintegration and biodegradability of leather and trendy alternatives. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0691.v1

GAZZOLA, P., PEZZETTI, R., and SEVERI, C. (2021). Circular economy for sustainable fashion: From food to fashion. JOB, 10(1), 9-29. https://doi.org/10.31578/job.v10i1.183

Henninger, C., Brydges, T., Normand, A., Luo, S., Quijano, L., Wood, J., and Yan, S. (2023). How do companies communicate their 'sustainable' material innovations on company websites? International Journal of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles, 2(2), 163-188. https://doi.org/10.1386/sft_00027_1

Kefale, G., Teshome, Z., and Birlie, A. (2023). A systematic review on potential bio leather substitute for natural leather. Journal of Engineering, 2023, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1629174

Majib, N., Yaacob, N., Ting, S., Rohaizad, N., and Rashidi, A. (2024). Fungal mycelium-based biofoam composite: A review in growth, properties and application. Progress in Rubber Plastics and Recycling Technology, 41(1), 91-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/14777606241252702

Meyer, M., Dietrich, S., Schulz, H., and Mondschein, A. (2021). Comparison of the technical performance of leather, artificial leather, and trendy alternatives. Coatings, 11(2), 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020226

Full Grain Leather Alternatives to Vegan Leather Bags

Vegan leathers break down over time, so they need to be replaced more often than other materials. A quality full-grain leather bag can last a lifetime if you take care of it. Invest in something that not only looks great but also lasts a long time, meaning you do not have to replace it repeatedly. Take a look at our collection of full-grain leather bags made of vegetable-tanned leather that feel good, look good, smell good, and are made well at Steel Horse Leather.