Whether it's for environmental or ethical reasons, more + more people are seeking alternatives to leather in the fashion space.  The term 'vegan leather' has gained in popularity as a result.  What does this mean, what are the options, is it better or worse for the environment?  For Sans Beast, ethics will always be a fundamental element of this conversation - we don't believe animals should suffer for our fashion choices - however for many, it's a bigger conversation around the environment + finite resources, that resonates.  We attempt to offer some insight on this subject in this blog post.

In our educational blog post from October 2020, 'Should Tanned Leather Be Called ‘Natural’'? we promised a part two to this topic, exploring the  impact of intensive animal agriculture on the environment - and how this has a direct link to the profitable co-products that are outputs of slaughter when it comes to measuring impact on the earth.  We asked Emma Hakansson, founder of Collective Fashion Justice + Willow Creative Co, to pen the article, given her extensive research + work in this space.  Emma dives into the environmental impacts of industrial animal farming + the requisite co-product of leather. 

A few weeks ago, we threw a notion out into the universe that perhaps all this talk about leather being the 'natural' option when it comes to fashion, was not entirely true.  We said we'd discuss the manufacturing, the environmental impact, the biodegradability, and yes, even the ethics around the industrial level raising of animals on the planet.  We asked our community if they wanted to know more.  The answer was a resounding YES.  Co-authored by Cathryn Wills + Emma Hakansson, with as much research as they could gather to illustrate the point that 'faux' may be a dirty word to many, but modern leather has its own grubby secrets.

How do you clean your vegan leather bags + wallets? Designing + manufacturing products to a high standard is our starting point but the other part of the puzzle is how they are cared for. How we use, clean + care for handbags has a considerable impact on how long they last.  We’ve put together some simple information to ensure everyone can care for their prized Sans Beast treasures, and help them last for years to come. Read on for some tips + tricks to keep your beasts looking their best.

An open letter to animals, from our Sans Beast founder Cathryn Wills.  She highlights the contradictions that exist in our attitudes to various species + includes lists of books + films to read/watch if you want to learn more.