Friday, October 5, 2012

Faux Leather Handbags For A Clear Conscience

By Shawna Trujillo


You may have experienced the problem that your beautiful handbag made of fabric just doesn't last with everything you carry in it. After all, you not only need to carry your wallet, phone and keys with you, but also other things like lipstick, tampons or even a clean pair of underwear just in case. Getting a bag made of hide can be a solution, since it is strong and lasts much longer. However, this can be problematic if you're an animal lover or out of pocket. This is why faux leather handbags are a great solution.

In the past, no fashionista worth her salt would be caught dead with a bag made of faux leather. It looked cheap and artificial, after all. These days, however, it is much easier to get away with fake, not only because it is easier to justify ethically and economically, but also because manufacturers are producing more realistic looking and feeling materials.

More people are looking for alternatives to animal products, especially as vegetarianism and veganism are becoming more common. Animal-rights groups have also been putting pressure on the fashion industry to become cruelty free as more information becomes available about the practices involved in getting animal skin. Consumers are increasingly aware of the real cost of what they're buying and the impact this has on the world. As such, they are more inclined to use their spending power to dictate to the fashion industry instead of the other way round.

Ethical considerations are not the only reason why some people prefer to go for faux, however. Economics is a huge consideration too. Not only are artificial materials cheaper to produce, but most are easier to clean too. Therefore, you not only save on the price of that tote, but also on the cost of keeping it looking good.

Artificial hide can be made of a variety of materials, usually plastic based. Polyurethane, PVC and acrylic are particularly popular choices. Some manufacturers also use a natural fiber, for instance cotton, and then cover it with a layer of PVC or a similar synthetic.

A drawback of synthetic hide is that it isn't very eco-friendly. Anything with a plastic base takes years to degrade. As petrochemical products, they also depend on an industry that tends to have a very negative impact on the environment.

This longer breaking-down time can be an advantage, however. Synthetic hides can keep looking new for much longer than real hide. A bonus is that not only are they easily recycled, but they're often made of recycled materials from the start. This helps reduce plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or in the ocean.

If you are still looking for a cruelty-free but environmentally friendly alternative, there are also non-plastic materials that look and feel realistic. For example, cork leather is made from cork while ocean leather is made from kelp. These alternatives can be very expensive and difficult to track down, however.

With such a variety of materials that look and feel like the real thing, it naturally follows that there is a variety of styles to choose from too. If you cannot decide between a practical carry-all tote and a small clutch bag, you just need to remember that faux leather handbags are much easier on your pocket. You may even be able to afford both and have some money left over for those killer heels too.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment