Short answer: a leather bag costs more to produce than a cheap fast-fashion bag, but it also lasts for decades. Because you often replace a fast-fashion bag after one season, the actual impact per year of use is usually lower for a good leather bag.
Leather is sometimes debated when it comes to the environment. But a fair comparison looks not at one bag, but at how many bags you actually use over the years.
The problem with a short-term view
Anyone who looks only at the production of one bag misses the bigger picture. Fast fashion is about volume and speed. A bag is bought, used for a few months, and then thrown away. That cycle repeats over and over.
Impact per year of use
The fairest measure is the impact per year that you use a product. The calculation is simple.
- Fast-fashion bag: inexpensive, but often worn out or out of fashion after one season. You buy several per year.
- Good leather bag: a higher initial cost, but you use it for years, often decades.
Over a period of ten years, you replace a fast-fashion bag many times, while a good leather bag lasts. Read also why vegetable-tanned leather is worth the investment.
The difference lies in the material
Cheap bags are often made from plastic-based faux leather. It wears out quickly and leaves behind microplastics. Vegetable-tanned leather is a natural material that develops a beautiful patina over the years instead of wearing out.
What you can do
- Buy less, but choose quality that lasts.
- Take good care of your bag with our care guide.
- Repair instead of replacing.
- Pass a bag on or sell it second-hand at the end of your use.
Making conscious choices starts with the material. Discover why vegetable-tanned leather is better for you and the planet or view the collection right away.
Frequently asked questions
Is leather worse for the environment than faux leather?
Its production impact is higher per item, but leather lasts much longer. Per year of use, good leather is therefore often less harmful than plastic faux leather.
How long does a good leather bag last?
With proper care, a bag made from full-grain leather lasts for decades, and it becomes more beautiful as it ages.
Why is fast fashion so harmful?
Fast fashion revolves around producing and consuming quickly and cheaply. Its short lifespan leads to a great deal of waste and repeated production.
