Years ago, vegan or faux leather clothing and accessories were stigmatized as lesser quality products. The cheap and often times tacky looking material was a poor alternative to the real thing, and even ethical vegans found it difficult to give up their leather shoes and accessories for lack of quality, cruelty-free options. Fortunately, the past few years has seen a boom in leather alternative textiles, and companies are really showing off their creativity in terms of materials. The current trend is to not only provide an ethical product, but a sustainable one. So what’s the latest? Pineapple. Yes, we’re talking wearable fruit leather that looks, feels, and endures like its animal-based counterpart. Its called Piñatex™, and it is the latest en vogue material in the sustainable fashion world.

Piñatex™ is created with the long stranded fibers of pineapple leaves. Dr. Carmen Hijosa invented this creative material following her years of work in the leather industry. She took a trip to the Philippines in search of more natural products, and discovered that the pineapple leaf fibers could be made into a non-woven textile (translation: fabric that does not need to be knitted or sewn together). Dr. Hijosa implemented a system where the fibers are extracted by the pineapple farm workers, processed into a non-woven textile, then finished in Spain, ready to supply to responsibly-minded retailers. This practice bolsters the local farming economy and promotes sustainability, as pineapple leaves are considered a byproduct of the pineapple harvest and typically discarded. Dr. Hijosa created her consciously-minded company, Ananas Anam, as a way to distribute Piñatex™ globally.

Hipsters for Sisters (HFS) Collective, a Los Angeles based bag company, is an early adopter of pineapple leather and one of the first American companies to incorporate Piñatex™ into their collections. Dedicated to providing the highest quality products using the most sustainable materials, co-founder Rachel Denniston said they have had their eye on Piñatex™ for the past two years. HFS proudly debuted their pineapple leather bag collection in early Fall 2017. The line includes two belt bags (a chic, modern version of the practical fanny pack), a crossbody tote, and a matching zippered wallet. Denniston raved, “The true beauty of this collection stems from the fact that we are combining the rugged, edgy look of Piñatex™with our soft, elegant, eco-suede. The result is a sophisticated, unique collection that goes with just about anything!”

The price for these items reflects the true cost of operating a sustainable business. Unfortunately, the fast fashion industry has popularized the concept of cheap, disposable faux leather products, which has led to some resistance and even sticker shock when a non-leather good costs the same as its leather counterpart. However, it is essential to disrupt this ideology and make an effort to understand what goes into the pricing of these products. A sweat-shop made handbag is not meant to last over the years, and it can be produced quite cheaply and sold at a socially acceptable price point, no eyebrows raised. However, the same handbag made with durable, sustainable material by a worker earning a living wage will cost significantly more. The Piñatex™products at HFS Collective will set you back from $215 for the pocket belt bag and up to $395 for the large crossbody tote. Its true, there is an expense to responsible business practices, but for Denniston, ethics are non-negotiable.

“Simply stated, sustainable and ethical production means being responsible in one’s manufacturing and sourcing of fabric. Not only is it important to have the lightest impact on the planet with your production and sourcing of material, but its equally important to provide the craftsmen and women that make your products with fair, living wages in safe and pleasant working conditions. We try to do it all.”

In addition to HFS Collective, a few other small businesses are beginning to incorporate Piñatex™into their lines. The material is becoming more prevalent through Etsy retailers, and there is hope for larger distribution with big name brands in the future. 

In essence, fashion is an investment. It is not about how many different outfits you have or never wearing the same thing twice; it is about collecting classic, quality pieces that truly shine and make you feel confident. Fashion is not meant to be disposal, it is meant to be treasured and valued. Thanks to the recent innovations in sustainable material, like Piñatex™, quality fashion can now be ethical and sustainable fashion. We’d rather wear fruit than flesh, any day. 

Find Tanya on Instagram and The Vegan Potluck Podcast. 

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The post Wearable Fruit Leather: Pineapple is the New Leather Alternative appeared first on EcoSalon.

I don’t know about you, but I’m used to vegan leather that’s made out of synthetic man-made products. And while I suppose kombucha is man-made, I sure as heck didn’t know you could make vegan leather out of the fermented, bubbly, hipster drink of choice.

Researchers at Iowa State University are “using the cellulose fibers taken from kombucha tea to make a new substitute for leather,” Ecorazzi reports. The researchers were able to conduct their work thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Iowa researchers are combining the healthy beverage, plus vinegar, sugar, bacteria, and yeast in a shallow bath. The fermented tea feeds off the mixture and forms cellulose fibers.

“The film is grown by using a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY),” Iowa State news reports. “Young-A Lee, an associate professor of apparel, merchandising and design at Iowa State, says the properties of this SCOBY film are similar to leather once it’s harvested and dried, and can be used to make clothing, shoes or handbags.”

“Fashion, to most people, is an ephemeral expression of culture, art, and technology manifesting itself in form. Fashion companies keep producing new materials and clothing, from season to season, year to year, to fulfill consumers’ desire and needs,” Lee says. “Think about where these items eventually go. They will take tremendous underground spaces of the Earth like other trash.”

Now, this research is only in its beta phase. The researchers still need to solve a few problems: moisture can make the kombucha “leather” lose its structural integrity and cold temperature can make it fall apart. The fiber also is time-consuming to make—“it takes up to four weeks to grow a sheet of the stuff,” Gizmodo notes.

If the researchers can work out these kinks, this biodegradable leather could become a reality.

“It does not take that long to make certain synthetic materials, but for this new material we are proposing, it requires a certain amount of time to grow, dry, and treat the material within specific conditions,” Lee explains.

“If our experimental effort from this EPA project is successful, this cellulose-based renewable fabric can be an alternate future where we move to a cradle-to-cradle system, instead of relying on materials derived from unsustainable sources.”

And while this whole vegan leather idea alone is pretty rad, this substance has been used for other things as well—cosmetics, foods, and biomedical tissue for wound dressing.

So, I guess kombucha is good for everything!

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Image of kombucha via Shutterstock

The post You Can Make Vegan Leather Out of What? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Love how heels lengthen your legs? Dress up your look? Give you calf muscles you didn’t know you had? Maybe. But wearing heels could be detrimental to your health.

If you think you’ll be the only gal in town sporting flats, think again. Victoria Beckham announced she will be hanging up her heels.

Yep, the former Spice Girl and fashion guru has declared she can no longer “do heels”, and will opt for flat shoes more often. Don’t believe it? Check out the footwear she chose for her NYFW show in February.

Sure, white sneakers are hot for spring. But VB in them at the Fall shows means this is serious.

So, are high heels really all that bad? A recent study shows that, over time, wearing heels can negatively affect muscles in the legs. Because the ankle is bent forward, calf muscles shorten in the back of the leg and lengthen in the front of the leg, which could weaken the muscles.

As we can see, sore feet aren’t the only detriment of wearing heels. Other possible problems? Knee and back pain, and spider veins.

Those die-hard high heel wearers can strengthen foot and leg muscles with exercises recommended in the study above. If you’d like to kick your stilettos to the back of the closet, here are some flat but still stylish options.

Sneakers are cuter than ever right now. ModCloth has a wide, and super cute, selection. And yes, you can wear tennis shoes with skirts.

It’s almost time for sandals. Yay! Take a look at these stunners by Aldo. Perfect with shorts, skirts, dresses, or pants.

A great gladiator screams summer music festivals. Grab this vegan pair at Free People.

Espadrilles are a summer classic. Try them in white or black vegan leather by Soludos.

No need to kill your feet or back for fashion. If Victoria Beckham is ditching her heels, so can we.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman with high heels via Shutterstock

The post What Wearing Heels Really Does to Your Body (and Flat Options You’ll Love!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Moto chic leather jackets are right on trend for Fall/Winter 2014, especially when paired with plaid, chunky sweaters, biker boots, and classic cut trousers. Eco-friendly options for a stylish leather jacket now abound, as so many labels and designers are embracing vegan leather or upcycling vintage leather into beautiful, new creations. Rock this trend with one of our 8 favorite picks from below!

1. Sweater Story Vegan Leather Jacket

This grunge inspired vegan leather jacket is just the ticket to a comfy and stylish winter look. Pair it with a plaid dress or skirt or a pair of ripped black jeans for the full ’90s look. $228

2. Kiind of Ryder Moto Jacket

This rocking vegan leather jacket has just the right mix of elegance and attitude. Wear it with an LBD on a night out or your favorite pair of jeans for weekend outings. $139

3. Pender Jacket

Olga Road’s upcycled leather jackets are all made from recycled leather materials. The Pender style is simple and clean, and easy to pair with any casual outfit. $229

4. Studded Vegan Leather Moto

This vegan leather jacket from Free People tops the chart for rocker chic, and definitely requires some serious attitude, a good bit of bling and a smoking hot outfit underneath it. $348

5. Kut from the Kloth Lincoln Faux Leather Drape Jacket

This chic and elegant vegan leather jacket from Kut from the Kloth is the perfect cover-up for a chilly fall evening or winter in a warmer climate. $88

6. The Moresby

The Moresby is another upcycled leather jacket from Olga Road that is available in a range of colors. Make it your fave new fall coat! $229

7. Vegan Leather Bomber by Hei Hei

Looking for something a little more elegant and sophisticated? This vegan leather jacket from Hei Hei is perfect for more formal occasions and outfits. $188

8. Sam Edelman Caitlyn Vegan Leather Jacket with Sherpa Collar

This vegan leather jacket is perfect for colder climates with its Sherpa collar. Wear it with your favorite jeans or over a winter dress, skirt or thick knit leggings. $154

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The post From Upcycled to Vegan Leather: Gorgeous Jackets for Fall and Winter appeared first on EcoSalon.

The carry-all gets an upgrade: vegan backpacks are all the rage and for good reason.

Out of the way simple, basic bags! Backpacks are taking over the world and we’re totally jazzed about it. The past few seasons have been boasting some pretty stylish, inventive, and functional designs, proving to be much more versatile than a purse. Can you say “hands free?!”

And now, you can wear it in style and without any guilt as these vegan backpacks are gorgeous and functional.

1. Vegan Convertible Backpack by Free People

Nothing says biker babe chic quite like this backpack (pictured at top)! Constructed of black vegan leather, free-flowing fringe and studs, this one is an absolute showstopper. With its removable and adjustable straps, it can alter into a backpack or a purse to fit whatever mood you’re in with perfect storage inside for the essentials of a night out: id, money, phone, and lipstick. Throw on your favorite pair of distressed denim jeans and a white tee and hit the town looking super badass.

Free People, $108

2. Prim Lady Backpack by French Connection

For the girl who’s more of a minimalist, you’ve just found the perfect mate in a backpack. This vegan backpack is perfect for on-the-go purposes without sacrificing style. With its “top-down” zipper closure and flat based bottom, you can toss your iPad, some fashion mags, and a notebook in the main compartment and drop your phone and keys into the two cotton slip pockets located inside. You can run about town, coffee in hand, and take the world by storm without missing a beat. Choose from colors white, black floral, and hazel.

Check it out here. $88

3. ‘Betsy’ Faux Leather Backpack by Emperia

If you like to travel, be sure to bring this little gem as your companion. The smooth cognac shade of brown vegan leather and zipper tassels add a cool western vibe while the scalloped detailing and metal hardware in the studs and carrying handle make it a bit more savvy. This backpack contains tons of storage with interior and exterior pockets and a zipped enclosure on the front. The easy-access side pockets located on the outside make it perfect for temporarily storing your phone or passport. Why would you ever leave home without this amazingly convenient backpack?!

Available here, $48

4. Super Embellished Convertible Backpack Purse by Rusty Spur Couture

Ever wonder why your crazy grandma kept a box full of random buttons in her drawer? Maybe she wasn’t so crazy after all because this button embellished backpack/purse combo is pretty marvelous. Shying away from the typical, grittier studs we normally see on everything, we get a daintier version of edgy. Made of super soft vegan leather, this cool contraption can change functions in a snap! It can go from a backpack to a purse with just one slide of a strap. It has a secure closure with a drawstring and a flap that folds down and even has a pocket inside perfect to fit a phone in. It can be purchased in a sleek black or creamy white color. Don’t go stealing grandma’s buttons now…

Open Sky, $89.99

5. Rosalind Backpack by Free People

This backpack is all about the free-spirited, gypsy wanderer. Comprised of an indigenous printed fabric with vegan leather accents, the overall essence is a true boho vibe. The gunmetal hardware and toggle clasps make it a great accessory for adventure whether you’re hiking a trail or hanging around a bonfire with your best buds. It’s an amazing carry-on for travel as well because of the side cargo pockets and a hidden zippered pocket on the back. So grab this backpack and go exploring in style!

Free People, $298

6. Nosis Backpack by Aldo

Most of us are always looking for clothing and accessories that can easily transition our ultra busy lives from day to night without a hitch. This sleek and stylish backpack achieves just that, all the time, every day, every night. You can easily go from the office to happy hour without delay. Oh, and the compartments are endless! The drawstring closure opens to reveal interior zip and slip pockets and is equipped with a flat base to neatly hold your belongings. Then on the outside you have two buckled front pockets and the fold-over flap doubles as storage as well! Also extremely versatile, this is another backpack/purse blend complete with a top carrying strap and removable arm straps. It is available in either black or brown. This backpack was made for flaunting and that’s just what it will do!

Get it here. $50

7. ‘Cynnie’ Sling Backpack by Elizabeth and James

Those Olsens always know exactly what they’re doing. The design concept behind this creation is imaginative and super cool. You can wear this backpack three different ways: as a purse, slung over your shoulder, or the obvious, as a backpack. There’s something simple yet so originative about this backpack. The structure and drawstring closure emit chic simplicity, but then you have the folky woven print and the vegan leather tassel that pulls down to reveal a whole front exterior pocket… It’s just too cool in the best sort of way. You also don’t need to worry about quick wear and tear of the backpack because it comes with protective metal feet on the bottom. Olsens, you’ve done it again. And we’re so glad you did.

Check it out. $545

Check out and shop all of these cool vegan leather backpack packs below. Happy shopping!

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The post 7 Gorgeous Vegan Backpacks You Probably Can’t Live Without appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnWelcome to a new type of luxury. On trend vegan handbags and shoes are a(n animal) friendly reminder that you don’t have to sacrifice style to live a compassionate and conscious lifestyle. Here are 5 great brands trailblazing vegan fashion to carry your belongings and walk you forward.

Cruelty-free, vegan style isn’t a trend you instantly recognize–there are no flash signs or logos that distinguish these pieces from leather. But if you are a conscious consumer you can’t miss out on these brands.

From Anne Hathaway’s custom Tom Ford vegan gladiator sandals to Natalie Portman’s own vegan footwear collection, this isn’t a trend that is going away anytime soon. In fact, the rise of vegan fashion options is growing slowly, but certainly steadily.

Leah Wallet by Cri de Coeur

Certainly you’ll be pretty in pink with this cruelty-free Cri de Coeur clutch. Although the brand is best known for their line of stylish vegan shoes, we love their handbags too. One of the first and most well-known vegan footwear and handbag brand, Cri de Coeur is made from top quality vegan materials like ultra-suede, made from recycled plastic, eco-PU, that is breathable, biodegradable and has a low-VOC content, organic cotton, and reclaimed wood.

Cri de Coeur, $75

Darcy Bootie by Bhava

Bhava is made using the highest quality hand-woven, organic, recycled and cruelty free components–all in one shoe. Founders Francisca Pineda and Rushali A. Sanghani work closely within a Fair Trade atelier in Mumbai, ensuring the makers are utilizing the best of both traditional and modern techniques. The brand’s aesthetic aims for “timeless elegance with a dose of ingénue charm.”

Bhava, $155

Julia Maroon by Neuaura

Neuaura is another great vegan brand–and their products are never made with any animal products at all. They believe in protecting the environment and the animals who inhabit it. For example, a portion of their manufacturing is done in hydroelectric powered facility in southern Brazil–so no carbon is emitted from the facility. Each year Neuaura partners with a different charity or organization that focuses on preserving and protecting animals and the planet.

Neuaura, on sale for $79.99

Secret Cheetah by Olsenhaus

No Cheetahs were harmed in the Fair Trade production of this pump. In fact, Olsenhaus is 100% vegan, and stands on firm ground that it always will be. Not only style, but education is equally important. They hope to shed light “regarding atrocities taking place against animals, the environment and all of mankind” and provide a better option through their brand.

Olsenhaus, $155

Nala Doubler by Freedom of Animals

This bag is as soft as leather without the addition of any harsh chemicals. If we had an award for favorite vegan handbag brand of the year–Freedom of Animals would be it. Their material is ‘eco-leather, an EPA certified blend of post consumer materials, and woven with organic cotton. Most of all, it’s an equally durable, equally stylish alternative against the flooded market of leather bags.

Freedom of Animals, $460

See Also:

Rocking the Red Carpet: 3 Celebrity Eco Fashion Trends
Eco-Chic Celebrity: How To Get Emma Watson’s Sustainable Style
5 Celebrity Favorite Natural Beauty Products
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Want more On Trend? See The Latest:

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Images from the eco fashion brands, collage by Juliette Donatelli

The post Vegan Shoes and Handbags: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Kate Moss has secured her status as a modern-day style icon, and such a position doesn’t come without merit. Celebrating her fabulous style that is constantly changing and yet always translates as a ‘Kate Moss’ look, we’ve decided to dissect her signature style and provide you with eco-staples to achieve her effortless eclectic look.

1. Alkemie Jewelry: Zodiac Charm Necklace made from 100% reclaimed metal in Los Angeles.

2. Edun: Oversized Abstract Symbol Tee from the new collection, made in Tanzania from 100% organic cotton.

3. Matt & Nat: Nash Bag made from vegan leather and 100% recycled faux suede lining.

4. Cri de Coeur: Jamie Draped Vamp Bootie with Ties made of supple faux suede, so don’t worry about getting them wet!

5. Loomstate: Revelation Blue Sky Jeans are 98% organic cotton and only lightly dyed for a sky blue wash.

We all might be holding our breath to see what Miss Moss wears next, but at least now we’ve got her style basics covered!

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