Many animal rights campaigners claim that the use of leather contributes to the death of animals, it is also claimed that farms exist purely for the creation of leather – can this be true?
The short answer is: “No. Absolutely not.”
No one raises cows for their hides. In the US, 10-20% of hides are thrown out, sent to landfill. Worldwide, this is estimated at over 40% or 120 million hides.
Where the hides are sold, in the US, they are valued at less than 2% of the value of a cow. It countries like Brazil, it is less. Farmers raise cattle for meat and milk. If cows were bred purely for leather, the price of the hide would not cover the feed and labour costs involved in breeding them and allowing them to reach maturity.
Here at RLSD we know that is a terrible waste and often results in hides being sent to landfill or to be incinerated – both these methods are bad for the environment. Hides are a by-product of the cattle and dairy industries. Using hides to make leather allows us to produce a beautiful, durable, sustainable material, upcycling a by-product that might otherwise end up as landfill.
This article was amended on December 7 2022. It previously said that leather sequestered carbon. While cattle grazed as part of regenerative farming systems contribute to soil carbon sequestration, and the use of cowhides prevents carbon emissions that occur as a result of landfill or incineration, leather does not sequester carbon. Leather does, however, hold carbon from the cowhide it was made from.
Josslyn Shi from California College of Art has been crowned Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition at a glittering final event held at the U.S. Embassy in London.
We spoke to Alicia Linz, founder of the company, about the inspirations and challenges that have driven her.
If you’re planning on buying an ‘alternative’ to leather, make sure you know exactly what its manufacturing actually involves
There’s no better way for a man to make a sartorial statement than with a leather suit and Wonka star Timothée Chalamet managed two different ones as the film’s premieres rolled out around the world.
Third Student Design Competition climaxes in runway show and celebration as design ‘Gestation’ is named the best.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Stay different with our monthly roundup, which includes the latest on leather fashion and sustainable features, competition news and more.
