If you’re on the hunt for sustainable last-minute Christmas gifts, look no further. For the leather lovers out there, investing in well-made pieces that have been responsibly sourced should be a no-brainer – but unfortunately, many mainstream retailers are not completely transparent about the production of their leather products, nor the tanning processes used.
Fear not, because our sustainable leather gift guide is here to provide all the inspiration you need. Each product has been hand-picked thanks to its transparent leather sourcing principles and Leather Working Group approval – not to mention fashion editor-approved style credentials. Don’t forget to choose express delivery…
German designer Lutz Morris solely uses LWG gold-rated tanned leather to craft its handbags, which are favourites among fashion insiders for their sleek silhouettes and vintage-inspired frame construction. The ‘Maya’ bag is suitably unassuming but beautifully made – perfect for any quiet luxury handbag collector.
Got a sneakerhead to buy for? For a huge multinational company, Veja is particularly impressive when it comes to transparency and traceability – the brand is open about where it sources its signature leathers and only uses LWG gold-approved suppliers. The popular V-90 style, in the shade ‘Cashew’, will go with any outfit.
Secrid is the accessories brand to know when it comes to sustainability and practicality – the best-selling Miniwallet is particularly handy, since it’s super compact but still manages to house plenty of cards and cash. We’re very impressed with their leather sourcing practices, too – there’s a full supplier list available online and each product comes with a breakdown of the leather type and tanning process used. This one is vegetable-tanned cowhide.
Icebug is breaking ground in the outdoor footwear industry by opening up its supply chain for all to see – and in 2023, it moved its leather supply over to Spoor, a completely traceable collection from Scandinavia. Well-loved by the world’s walkers, each pair of shoes can be broken down to every material and supplier. These would make an ideal gift for a seasoned hiker.
Anya Hindmarch’s ‘Return To Nature’ collection is a pioneering feat for a global design house, using completely biodegradable traceable leather to craft a line of the brand’s signature handbags. It is chrome, heavy-metal and aldehyde-free, meaning it will literally ‘return to nature’ at the end of its life – though its classic silhouette is timeless either way.
Those who like to travel light will love this sweet phone case – which will add interest to any outfit (and also features handy credit card slots, so you can go completely bag-free). Marimekko’s ‘Imprint’ collection uses only traceable Scandinavian leather, and features the brand’s signature flower perforation design – plus it’s currently 40 percent off.
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.
Meet one of our 45 shortlisted individuals in the running to become the next leader in leather fashion.
Rather than walk, you can now recline on the wild side with Bill Amberg Studio’s latest collaboration with the Knepp Estate.
Meet Yiying Cao, participant in our 2021 China Student Design Competition.
Meet Yu Wang, 21-year-old student currently attending Guangling College at Yangzhou University and participant in the 2021 China Student Design Competition.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Stay different with our monthly roundup, which includes the latest on leather fashion and sustainable features, competition news and more.
Secrid miniwallet, £74.95
