While many consumers agree that using fur is unethical, very few seem to view leather in the same light and continue to perceive purchasing animal-based leather boots as a luxury. With fast-fashion retailers, such as H&M and Zara, labeling their “100% genuine,” or rather, 100% animal-based, leather offerings as premium products, we see how retailers enable this perception to prevail.
Beyond Skin Sienna B Black Slouch Vegan Boots
Shop Now: $250
Beyond Skin’s founder, Natalie Dean, sought to break down this stigma by creating a true vegan luxury footwear label. At its core, Beyond Skin is first and foremost a fashion label, which happens to create all cruelty-free products, showing that any luxury consumer easily can go leather-free. For Beyond Skin, ethics and style should never be considered mutually exclusive. The brand is committed to creating a truly humanitarian luxury label, making its products from eco-conscious fabrics in ethical factories and donating 1% of its profits to grass-root environmental and social projects.
Beyond Skin Lulu Faux Snake Vegan Ankle Boots
Shop Now: $210
“We have found it to be incredibly important to be open in our dialogue about why we do not use certain materials and educate people on the impact of their consumer choices, the how’s and the why’s,” Dean says. “We are passionate about what we do, and are transparent about what we can’t, due to the constraints of a smaller business. Hopefully, this way people witness the sincerity and conviction of our brands ethos.”
Beyond Skin Kelly Black Block Heel Over The Knee Vegan Boots
Shop Now: $179
The brand is not only committed to remaining cruelty-free but also creating truly sustainable vegan leather products. Beyond Skin opted not to use PVC – the material that many mass-retailers use when producing their leather alternative accessories – for any of its shoes. The label uses Polyurethane (PU), PET plastics, and polyester, rather than viscose, to create its faux leather, suede and satin textiles, respectively. Currently, the brand’s products are manufactured in Alicante, Spain with their corporate headquarters in Brighton, U.K.
Beyond Skin Jane Black Vegan Boots
Shop Now: $189
Beyond the luxury footwear label, Dean elaborates on the greater importance of luxury brands becoming more sustainable. “We believe that the rise in veganism and ethical consumerism will continue to grow as we all become more consciously aware of our own personal impact on our planet,” Dean says.
Beyond Skin Jazz Vegan Chelsea Boots
Shop Now: $145
The high demand for Beyond Skin’s products underscores that sustainable – and potentially, vegan – fashion is the way of the future.
What other luxury vegan brands should Forbes readers know about?
