Cruelty-free bags: a choice that goes beyond fashion

Vegan, cruelty-free, animal-free. There are many labels, but the basic idea is always the same: many of the goods we buy are produced causing unnecessary suffering to animals and more and more people are choosing to say no to these methods of production. It is not just about food choices, it is about changing your consumption attitude and becoming more aware of our purchases. Of course, the topic is vast, but here we focus on one product in particular: leather of animal origin.

What is behind the production of leather?

Unless you have chosen to adopt a vegan diet, you have probably never paid too much attention to the origin of the leather garments. Many believe that leather is the waste product of the meat industry and that the animals used to produce it are still destined for slaughter.

In fact, according to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture, animal skin represents the "most economically significant by-product" of the intensive livestock industry: for farmers, leather is a huge profit, not a waste product and the success of slaughterhouses and dairy companies is closely related to the sale of hides. Furthermore, some species of animals are hunted and killed only and exclusively for their skin: among these there are kangaroos, reptiles, birds and, especially in China, even dogs and cats. The issue, however, becomes even more dramatic when it comes to the barbaric methods by which these animals are killed and skinned.

Finally, leather tanning involves the use of chemicals that are particularly harmful to the environment.

But are there valid alternatives to leather?

The answer is yes. Although it is widely believed that these are not as durable and resistant. Thanks to modern production techniques, in reality, fake leather now has all the credentials to compete with real leather: it guarantees similar resistance, is lighter, equally breathable, and can be easily cleaned using Marseille soap or cleansing milk. , without forgetting that its production cycle has a much lower environmental impact than that of leather.

The choice of Paul Meccanico

Paul Meccanico bags and belts are produced only with cruelty free materials such as imitation leather and truck tarpaulin, in addition the production involves artisan workshops within a radius of thirty kilometers from our creative headquarters, minimizing the impact of transport on the environment.

And what do you think? Are you still convinced that leather is the best choice?