Image: Culthread
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The Best Sustainable, Recycled, Vintage & Vegan Leather Jackets
While initially, they were only worn by aviators and members of the military in the early 1900s, leather jackets became very popular among civilians after the Second World War. In the 1970s and 1980s, they became a staple piece in many women’s wardrobes.
Nowadays, our love for leather jackets has not faded as they are still a go-to jacket for many people! They are available in a wide variety of styles for both men and women, and they are incredibly versatile and easy to style.
Plus, leather jackets can last forever if they are properly maintained and taken care of. However, leather production, especially the factory farming industry, generates considerable amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
Huge portions of land are also deforested to raise cattle, and the leather tanning process can be extremely polluting as most tanneries use hazardous chemicals that can end up poisoning the local environment, water supply, and communities.
But fortunately, we can buy more sustainable leather jackets! There are different alternatives to conventional leather that are usually so much better for the planet!
In this article, we have selected 10 sustainable leather jacket brands that sell vintage models as well as leather jackets made from more eco-friendly and ethical types of leather.
WHAT MAKES A LEATHER JACKET SUSTAINABLE?
A sustainable leather jacket is made with more eco-friendly types of leather and tanned without chrome or other harsh chemicals.
It should also be made ethically by workers who are paid fair wages and work in safe and healthy conditions. So try to stay away from fast fashion companies and instead, support certified brands that are transparent about their supply chain, how they source their leather, and how their products are made.
Quality and traditional craftsmanship are two other things to look for. Sustainable leather jackets should be extremely durable and made to last for many years!
WHAT TYPES OF LEATHER SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
The most sustainable leather jackets we can find are vintage or second-hand models. The environmental damage has already been done, and no additional animal had to be killed. Plus, buying used leather jackets ensures they have a new life and stay out of the landfill for longer.
Another similar option is to choose jackets made from deadstock or recycled leather. Here, leather that has been previously used is upcycled into a new product so the environmental impact is a lot lower compared to conventional leather.
You can also buy vegetable-tanned leather jackets though these are more difficult to find. Vegetable-tanned leather is made from tanning animal hides with tree bark or other natural tanning agents. It is more sustainable than chemically-treated leather, but it still raises some ethical issues.
If you are vegan or simply do not want to support the leather industry, you can still get a “leather” jacket! There are vegan alternatives to conventional leather, but most of them are made of PU or PVC, which are not sustainable as these are plastics. However, some brands create more eco-friendly models combining PU and plants. Piñatex (made from pineapple leaf fibers) and cactus leather are two examples. While these are not the most sustainable as they still contain plastic, they can be a great option if you are looking to stay away from conventional leather!
NOW, OUR TOP PICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE LEATHER JACKETS
1) Culthread
For: Women
Materials: Coffee-Cycled Vegan Leather, Deadstock Vegan Leather, Recycled Plastic
Price: $159-375
Culthread is a sustainable vegan brand handcrafting stylish jackets and bags using cruelty-free materials. All its jackets are very practical as they are warm all while being lightweight, and they feature multiple pockets and even a hidden rain hood.
There are different styles you can choose from, from short to longer models, to sleeveless puffer jackets available in metallic colors.
All of these are made of deadstock or recycled vegan leather. Some are even produced from coffee-cycled vegan leather, which is obtained using coffee grounds and recycled polyester!
All the other materials used in the jackets are recycled, including the lining, insulation, hood, buttons, threads, and zippers.
Culthread makes its vegan leathers with a water-based PU coating without using harmful chemicals. It crafts them in its own atelier in Vietnam where workers receive on average three times the national minimum wage and many employee benefits.
The brand also reuses its leftover materials in new designs, makes everything in small batches to avoid overproduction, and uses laser cutting technology to reduce its material waste.
Plus, each of its products comes in a cool laundry bag made from deadstock fabric and production offcuts!
2) Matt & Nat
For: Women & Men
Materials: Vegan Leather, Recycled Polyester
Price: $195-245
Matt & Nat is a Canadian vegan brand committed to designing high-quality, timeless products without ever using leather or any other animal-based materials. All its products are vegan and cruelty-free.
It has a great selection of fake leather jackets for women as well as two models for men.
The company offers several stylish motorcycle jackets with a zip-front closure and multiple zippered pockets so that you can carry all your essentials wherever you go.
The jackets have a flattering fit and feature cool details such as buckle belts, decorative flap pockets, and zippered sleeve cuffs.
Matt & Nat also has a longer women’s jacket with a button front and a self-tie belt, as well as an oversized model with a collar, available in black and a lovely pinkish color. You can even buy a vegan leather puffer jacket that has a practical belt and removable hood!
All the company’s vegan leather jackets are made of polyurethane with a 100% recycled polyester lining.
3) Will's Vegan Store
For: Women & Men
Materials: Bio-Based Vegan Leather, Vegan Suede, Recycled Polyester, Viscose, Cotton
Price: $156-242
Will’s Vegan Store is a cruelty-free, vegan footwear brand that also sells stylish fake leather jackets for both men and women.
You can find many styles, from bomber jackets to racer models, to biker jackets. Most of these are made from Italian bio-based vegan leather derived from cereal crops and lined with REACH-certified viscose fabric.
The brand also has a few vegan suede jackets, which are made from polyurethane.
If you are looking for a warmer model for the winter, Will’s Vegan Store offers a brown or black oversized aviator jacket that is designed to keep you snug and toasty, even in the coldest temperatures. It is made from a heavyweight combination of vegan shearling crafted from 100% recycled polyester bonded with vegan leather.
The brand makes all its products in Italy or Portugal in factories where workers receive many employee benefits alongside a fair wage and a healthy working environment.
All the jackets are free of PVC and PFCs, and Will’s Vegan Store is carbon-neutral certified and ships its products in plastic-free packaging.
4) Beyond Retro
For: Women & Men
Materials: Vintage Leather, Vintage Suede
Price: $11-253
Beyond Retro has been a leader in the vintage fashion sphere for the past 20 years. It has a huge selection of leather jackets with more than 500 models available!
You can choose from many styles, cuts, and colors, and you can find some unique pieces no matter your budget.
Some jackets are sold at extremely low prices, meaning that you can score real gems for as little as $20!
Beyond Retro has leather jackets from various brands, and it has many gorgeous models crafted in the 60s and 70s. While there are many classic biker or bomber jackets, you can also find one-of-a-kind pieces featuring cool details like old badges, fringes, embroidery, or animal prints.
In addition to saving beautiful clothing from landfill, the company launched a number of initiatives to help reduce waste. For instance, we can resell our vintage clothes to Beyond Retro, and it also works with different brands to produce 100% upcycled garments.
5) Hyer Goods
For: Women
Materials: Deadstock Leather
Price: $375
Hyer Goods sells bags and accessories made from leather and fabrics sourced from factory scraps and deadstock materials.
It also crafts a beautiful women’s leather blazer that is very versatile and is perfect if you are looking for a jacket that looks good and can be dressed up and down easily.
The blazer is made from deadstock lambskin leather cut from leftovers from the fashion industry. The leather is very supple and feels very soft, and the blazer has a timeless shape and features an oversized, relaxed fit.
It also has a 3-button closure, patch pockets, and a notch collar, and it comes with a reusable bag. When you are done with your blazer, you can even resell it on the brand’s resale platform!
Hyer Goods makes sure its leathers are tested for chrome VI after aging, ensuring the skins are safe and healthy to wear. The brand also donates 1% of net sales to support different organizations helping people in need.
6) Unreal Fur
For: Women
Materials: Vegan Leather, Recycled Polyester
Price: $149-549
With its faux fur clothing and vegan winter outerwear, Unreal Fur strives to end the use of real fur and other animal products in the fashion industry.
The brand makes several stylish vegan leather jackets, including different aviator jackets featuring ultra-soft marbled leather and plush faux shearling wool paneling. Most of them are made of polyurethane or polyester, but some have a recycled polyester lining.
Unreal Fur also sells a longer vegan leather jacket with a practical hood, which is perfect for rainy days!
All its jackets are made with longevity in mind so that we can wear them season after season, and they are shipped in a compostable satchel.
Unreal Fur is also a PETA Business Friend, and it won two PETA Australia Fashion Awards for its faux fur designs, and a National Indigenous Fashion Award in 2022.
7) Baukjen
For: Women
Materials: Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Price: $437-639
Baukjen is a slow fashion brand driving positive change in the industry with its ethical supply chain and sustainable manufacturing practices.
It has women’s jackets that you can either buy or rent. They are made with leather sourced as a by-product of the food industry and tanned in Europe. We particularly recommend its 2 biker styles crafted from vegetable-tanned leather!
Its Lyle jacket has a classic, straight fit with a nice belt, and is sold in five beautiful colors, including pastel green, light blue, and powder pink. You can also choose the Alma jacket, which is cut into a longer line and has a loose, boyfriend-style fit.
Once you are done with them, you can send them back so that they can be recycled or resold on the brand’s second-hand platform (50% of the proceeds from these sales are donated to Oxfam to fight poverty).
Baukjen is very transparent about the factories it works with, and it ships its products in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging predominantly made with recycled materials.
The brand is also a “Best For The World” certified B Corporation, and it won the 2021 UN Global Climate Action Award. Plus, it donates at least 10% of its annual profits to different charities!
8) One Vintage
For: Women
Materials: Vintage Leather
Price: $349-1,523
One Vintage is a London-based one-stop shop for original vintage clothing and accessories. It also reworks and transforms antique textiles and turns them into contemporary pieces with unique embroidery and beading detailing.
The company has beautiful vintage leather jackets, most of which are from the 60s and 70s.
You get to choose from many styles, including different leather trench coats, biker jackets, and suede waistcoats.
The pieces are all unique and feature cool details like mismatched buttons, belts, gold studs, or long fringes. Some even have mesmerizing, hand-painted designs that will make you stand out from the crowd! These are true masterpieces!
One Vintage carefully selects its leather jackets making sure they are in good condition and of exceptional quality, and that they are cut from the highest-grade skins. The pieces are also reworked by hand by a team of talented designers and tailors.
9) Better World Fashion
For: Women & Men
Materials: Reclaimed Leather, Recycled Plastic
Price: $228-426
Better World Fashion is a sustainable Danish brand creating high-end fashion for men and women using reclaimed materials.
It offers three different models of leather jackets for women, available in black or red. It also has three styles that men will absolutely love, designed in black, brown, or cream.
Better World Fashion makes them by upcycling vintage leather jackets. It first cleans them with sawdust and deconstructs them completely. They are then sewn together with lining crafted from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The brand then adds the final touches with its buttons and zippers made of re-melted metal.
Better World Fashion produces its jackets in a family-owned factory in Poland, where each piece is made in a closed-circuit model. It also uses no chemicals or water and does not create any waste in its production process.
When you are done with your leather jacket, you can send it back and the company will turn it into new bags (and you get 50% off your next purchase).
The brand even allows you to rent each of its models, which is perfect if you like to try things out before buying them!
10) Deadwood Studios
For: Women & Men
Materials: Recycled Leather, Cactus Leather, Mushroom Leather, Recycled Plastic, Recycled Aluminum
Price: $148-2,955
Deadwood Studios crafts beautiful jackets and clothes using materials that would have otherwise gone to waste as well as more innovative plant-based materials.
It has a wide variety of leather jackets for both women and men, including various biker jackets, leather trench coats, puffer jackets, & many more.
There are many timeless styles and colors to choose from, and all of them are designed to stand the test of time and age well over time.
Deadwood Studios makes many of its jackets from 100% recycled leather sourced as production leftovers or factory offcuts. It also has many vegan leather options crafted from cactus leather.
If you are looking for more unique pieces, the brand sells golden-brown jackets made from Fine Mycelium, which is extracted from the Reishi fungus. This unisex collection is a true masterpiece and each jacket is made to order!
Deadwood Studios even has a gorgeous straight-cut jacket made of recycled leather coated with recycled aluminum! Plus, the brand uses a fabric crafted from recycled plastic bottles to line its jackets.
About the Author
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
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