"vegan" leather suitable for straps?

[DV8DUG]

1 hour ago, bikermutt07 said:

 

We need a "like" button.

What he said.

[penderel]

What you looking for as an alternative is cork cord..... 

[Silverd]

On 11/4/2018 at 7:08 PM, NVLeatherWorx said:

Then just go get some vinyl strapping somewhere and use that; there is no such thing as "vegan" leather and we all know that it is just artificial materials that are not within our materials matrix.  Being as you know that this is a leather forum and you work with the real thing you should know better than asking us about the garbage that we all work to replace.  Sorry, but such questions are not best suited for these forums.  Might I suggest that you go to your local Walmart and buy a couple of those fake belts they sell and use those.

...My have times changed!  I have many younger clients now asking for hand bags, journals and other personnel items to be made using non animal materials.  I'm bringing in plastic leather like materials and canvas for testing to appease this growing population.  The design and use approach and process is much different than with animal leather.  Skiving my not be possible in some cases.  Edge burnishing is not possible that I know of so switching to edge paint is almost mandatory.  Joint gluing is done using an alternate adhesive and of course no dying or splitting.   All in all the process requires much less skill and equipment if you look at it one way.  I cant say I like the idea but if you take a look at some of the high end bag designer products you will find several models being offered along side full grain leather units.  the tactile differences between leather and pleather are rapidly narrowing and if you are on your way out of this industry then you can avoid transitioning to the new materials but if you are just starting out I'd say I would recommend getting your feet wet.  The times are a changing.

 

Silverd    

[Kcstott]

go buy some biothane strap. Strap works has it 
I've had requests like this. and I look at them and respond with. "What part of leather craft don't you understand?"

[Kcstott]

5 hours ago, Silverd said:

...My have times changed!  I have many younger clients now asking for hand bags, journals and other personnel items to be made using non animal materials.  I'm bringing in plastic leather like materials and canvas for testing to appease this growing population.  The design and use approach and process is much different than with animal leather.  Skiving my not be possible in some cases.  Edge burnishing is not possible that I know of so switching to edge paint is almost mandatory.  Joint gluing is done using an alternate adhesive and of course no dying or splitting.   All in all the process requires much less skill and equipment if you look at it one way.  I cant say I like the idea but if you take a look at some of the high end bag designer products you will find several models being offered along side full grain leather units.  the tactile differences between leather and pleather are rapidly narrowing and if you are on your way out of this industry then you can avoid transitioning to the new materials but if you are just starting out I'd say I would recommend getting your feet wet.  The times are a changing.

 

Silverd    

I didn't get into leather craft to learn to sew Vinyl. If my wallet and journal market dries up due to a bunch of fruit loops wanting the wrong material I'll focus else where. While some may disagree with leather and the commercial beef industry. You will not find a leather bag in a landfill. you won't find a whale, dolphin, or seal wrapped up in leather lace or straps. Leather is biodegradable. it is a natural product. That same cant be said for the different petroleum based materials being dumped and finding their way into the ocean. I can sleep well at night knowing i have the skins of dead animals all over my house. I do not feel good about the plastics we have in this world 

[Retswerb]

Whole lot of weird butthurt responses in this thread considering OP was just trying to meet the needs of a client with the skillset he had. If a fellow doesn’t want to use alternate materials for a client that’s fine, tell the client it’s not your gig and move along. If someone else wants to give it a shot and try for advice here along the way I don’t see why anyone should be offended.

We’re all here because we love leather, obviously - but I see nothing wrong with someone choosing to use their leather skillset on a different material to make a buck from a client who wants to pay for it.

Edited December 11, 2020 by Retswerb

[paloma]

sorry but this fashion of vegan warms my ears, the leather is leather it comes from animals, if it's not the case it's not leather it's cereal.

[chrisash]

No doubt they said the same about Chrome leather. and from a few comments over time. on this and other forums it would appear that some only consider veg tan as real leather working

[chuck123wapati]

On 12/10/2020 at 5:00 PM, Silverd said:

...My have times changed!  I have many younger clients now asking for hand bags, journals and other personnel items to be made using non animal materials.  I'm bringing in plastic leather like materials and canvas for testing to appease this growing population.  The design and use approach and process is much different than with animal leather.  Skiving my not be possible in some cases.  Edge burnishing is not possible that I know of so switching to edge paint is almost mandatory.  Joint gluing is done using an alternate adhesive and of course no dying or splitting.   All in all the process requires much less skill and equipment if you look at it one way.  I cant say I like the idea but if you take a look at some of the high end bag designer products you will find several models being offered along side full grain leather units.  the tactile differences between leather and pleather are rapidly narrowing and if you are on your way out of this industry then you can avoid transitioning to the new materials but if you are just starting out I'd say I would recommend getting your feet wet.  The times are a changing.

 

Silverd    

send em to walmart! the dumps are full of "VEGAN" leather. Its friggin plastic 

[Silverd]

7 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

send em to walmart! the dumps are full of "VEGAN" leather. Its friggin plastic 

Hahaha.  Okay... since I wrote that I've made some progress on this very sensitive topic 

Cactus Leather.  it's a game changer in that although everything regarding proess changes assoiated typical vegan leather, it is a natural substance and is biodegradable unlike plastic.  The company making this relatively new material is Desserto.  They are located in Mexico.  Desserto has a swatch packet that I purchased which contains an impressive assortment of sample materials in various color, textures and thicknesses.  

I consider this product a much better alternative to the popular PVC or PU Vegan leather offered by mainstream companies since it is not petroleum based.  That said I'm not familiar with how it is made or if the process is eco friendly so more info needed.  In the meantime I've placed an order for a few yards and plan to develop a secondary product line around the material.  I'll always prefer natural leather over vegan material but not all customers share my mind set.

 

Silverd