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Faux And Fabulous: 6 Vegan and Alternative Leather Brands to Shop

Brands that are making their mark with alternative-leather products.

by : Estelle Gervais- Mar 17th, 2023

JW PEI, FREED & FREED

From sustainable-high-fashion pioneer Stella McCartney to Kim Kardashian’s Skims shapewear line, more and more designers and brands are creating sought-after wardrobe staples using vegan and alternative leathers. Recent innovations have taken the materials from being simply cruelty-free to being versatile and high quality, making such offerings more refined, accessible and all-season. We’ve rounded up six brands that are changing the face of faux leather one fashionable piece at a time.

JW PEI

Rocked by the likes of Gigi Hadid and Megan Fox, It brand JW Pei is known for making minimalist handbags in a rainbow of shades. The belief behind the Los Angeles-based brand is that fashion should be accessible, effortless and empowering. Considering its use of vegan leather and recycled plastic— and the fact that the pieces are priced under $200—it’s no wonder the bags have taken social media by storm.

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MATT & NAT

A brand that’s always been ahead of its time, Matt & Nat has been using only vegan leather since its launch in 1995. Constant innovation with a goal of complete sustainability has always been a priority for the Montreal-based brand, which uses high-quality materials recycled from things like nylon, rubber, windshield resin and plastic bottles for its stylish footwear, bags and coats. Pushing its accountability commitment even further, Matt & Nat helps ensure fair wages and clean workspaces for its workers around the world.

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THEMOIRÈ

Founded in 2019, THEMOIRè is a Milan-based company that offers eco-conscious alternatives to animal leather and chemically plasticized PVC. Its collections include bags, accessories and, more recently, bralettes and trenches. Innovation is at the core of the brand’s designs—it prioritizes bio-based fabrics made from things like apple waste and cactus fibre as well as natural fibres such as recycled cotton, raffia and even cork. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve.

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NANUSHKA

With a focus on three key pillars—earth, community and circularity—Budapest-based fashion house Nanushka might just be the brand when it comes to vegan leather. It has a no-waste policy and a socially responsible approach, and its supple alt-leather—called Okobor—is as versatile as it is practical and looks and wears like leather. With minimalist designs—biker jackets, duster coats, pants, tops, skirts and clutch bags—Nanushka is definitely the future of fashion.

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ESSAIM

The array of travel-friendly bags offered by new kid on the Montreal block Essaim are a combination of style and substance—just like the women founder Julie-Anne Ho designs for. She plans on launching two eco- and price-conscious collections a year, each made up of six new handbags in unique shades. The feminine-yet-functional pieces are all made of vegan leather and in limited quantities, and a percentage of sales is donated to Let’s Bond, a local initiative that advocates for mental health. Fashion with a cause? Sign us up.

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FREED & FREED

It’s not every brand that gets to celebrate 100 years in the game, but the father-daughter duo behind Freed & Freed have earned their bragging rights. The Manitoba-based company has been making waves for its colourful plush faux-fur coats, but its vegan-leather options are not to be overlooked. Its sustainability ethos doesn’t stop at eco textiles either: Its factories are eco-certified to the highest standard, and no harsh chemicals or animal-based dyes are used in the fabrication processes.

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