Jeans - We all know that iconic early 2000’s lyric, “Apple Bottom Jeans, Boots With The Fur”, but who knew that in the world of vegan fashion “boots with the fur” were not the only thing we had to worry about. As conscious consumers, it's essential to extend our values to every aspect of our lifestyle, including our clothing choices. Jeans, a wardrobe staple for many, often come with hidden non-vegan elements, and one major culprit is the use of leather patches. Fortunately, there are alternatives, and consumers have the power to make informed choices. Switching to vegan jeans doesn't mean compromising on style or quality, thanks to the growing demand for cruelty-free fashion, several brands are offering denim alternatives that are both stylish and ethical.
Brand Spotlight - Let's take a closer look at how some popular denim brands handle the leather patch issue:
Levis: We all love our 501s but unfortunately these wide leg jeans are guilty of using animal leather in their iconic patches. Levis has been making strides in sustainability and in summer of 2023 did release a leather free version of the iconic 501. Be on the lookout for vintage styles as they use a cardboard patch.
Madewell: Madewell's reputation for quality denim precedes them. Sadly it seems that while making strides in many areas of sustainable fashion they still use leather patches on all of their jeans.
7 For All Mankind: Renowned for luxury denim, 7 For All Mankind may be on the radar of many fashion enthusiasts. The good news they carry patch free jeans, the bad news not all of their styles are leather free.
Good American: Co-founded by Khloé Kardashian, Good American is a prominent player in the denim market and all of their jeans, sizes ranging from 00-32, are leather patch free!
PacSun: As a popular destination for trendy clothing, carrying a wide range of styles including skinny, slim, relax fit, boot-cut, & flare jeans PacSun's has all your denim needs covered. And amazingly the skate/surf inspired brand only carries leather patch free jeans.