Luxury brand LaBante London uses apple leather to create vegan shoes and accessories. We interviewed this PETA Business Friend so that we could pass along everything you need to know about its products:

What exactly is vegan leather?

Vegan leather is an extremely versatile alternative to animal-derived leather, and it can be made from various natural products, like vegetable or fruit waste. Vegan leather is totally animal-free, from the fabric itself to the glues and binding agents used in its production. Making leather from animal skin is cruel and highly damaging to the environment, using vast amounts of water and releasing greenhouse gases and other toxins. Worse, its intense dyeing process uses chromium, a poison that can cause cancer, putting tannery workers at risk from exposure. To reduce your carbon footprint and support more ethical working conditions, choose vegan leather!

What is apple leather?

Our vegan apple leather is made primarily from apple waste sourced from South Tyrol, a region in Italy with a sizable juicing industry and a bountiful fruit harvest. Making apple leather involves dehydrating the pulp, skin, and core of apples and grinding them into a fine powder, which is then mixed with natural ingredients and a binder such as corn or potato starch. The mixture is spread thin onto a sheet until it naturally becomes a durable and flexible leathery material. Finally, it’s mixed with polyurethane and dehydrated once more to enhance its durability, thus creating a PETA-approved textured fabric that looks and feels like genuine leather—which we use to make wallets, bags, and shoes.

The fewer virgin materials used means the fewer resources extracted from the planet, resulting in lower emissions and less energy consumption than in the production of animal-derived leather. Apple leather is also biodegradable, so it’s a more environmentally friendly choice all around.

How is LaBante London using apple leather?

As a fashion brand committed to sustainability and ethical practices, we’ve recently released a unisex line of sustainable, breathable, and comfortable sneakers made almost entirely out of vegan apple leather. The laces are made from recycled plastic bottles, and the soles are made from a recyclable plant-based rubber. They are also UV-resistant, hypoallergenic, and manufactured with the greatest care in good working conditions.

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LaBante London’s use of apple leather is just one example of the company’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. The brand has also implemented several other eco-friendly initiatives, including using recycled materials in its products and making swing tags that grow into wildflowers when you plant them. It also supports charities that protect the environment and animal welfare, such as the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

LaBante London even plants 10 trees for each purchase, making the purchase itself carbon-negative! By incorporating sustainable materials such as apple leather into its products, the brand is helping to reduce the fashion industry’s impact on the environment, uphold more humane practices, and promote sustainable consumerism.