sustainability

When you hear the word sustainability, it is rarely associated with leather or lambskin. Unfortunately, how important the sustainability aspect is with regard to fashion made of leather and lambskin is often lost. In the past few years, sustainability has become a criterion for good fashion. And of course that applies to all areas of the fashion world. How sustainable a label or company really is is not only defined by the materials used to manufacture products. It is a combination of different factors. In this article we would like to clarify what is important for Susanne Ledermoden and how resource-friendly we are in order to clear up any ambiguity.

Sustainability and leather, is that even possible?

The concept of sustainability divides minds. There is no clear definition of what is sustainable and what is not. However, everyone agrees on one point. Sustainability means future viability. That's exactly what Susanne Ledermoden wants: to sell fashion that doesn't damage the environment and is sustainable at the same time.
But how can fashion and, above all, how can leather be sustainable?
The textile waste and the cheap production of clothes are still a big problem in the fashion industry. In theory, the best solution would be to create new fashion from waste. Susanne Ledermoden uses this approach. Only that our waste product does not come from the textile industry, but from the food industry.

Leather: A waste product

Many assume that it is only reasonable to buy vegan leather.
It's not that easy. Just because a leather is vegan doesn't mean it's automatically eco-friendly or less harmful. Vegan only means that animal products have been avoided and a synthetic alternative (not biodegradable or recyclable) has been used. This is particularly misleading when it comes to an apparently ecological material such as apple leather: the raw product is mixed with a synthetic plastic and coated. The "leather" is made so robust, but consists of at least 70% plastic.
For the production of our fashion we use products or leftovers that have been saved from the garbage. No animals were bred for the production of our fashion. It is very important to us to clear up this misunderstanding. We do not use artificial leather, as it is always made of plastic, and rely on natural materials, as these are more ethical and return to their natural origins if thrown away. For reference, a leather jacket takes about 50 years to decompose, while plastic takes more than 500 years to decompose. With repairs or modifications, we can even extend the service life of a product.

production sites

The locations of our partners are widely spread, but all within the EU. The production facilities in Italy, Germany, France, Spain and Belgium therefore follow European standards and can be visited by us on a regular basis.
Our lambskin products are 100% made in the EU. It's a little different with leather jackets. Although our partner companies are based in the EU, there are companies that sometimes outsource their production abroad, for example to Pakistan. Regular checks and corresponding standards with regard to health maintenance and fair working conditions are the order of the day. This is the only way we can be sure that our goods are manufactured within a framework that corresponds to our values.

tanning

The tanning process is one of the most important steps in the leather manufacturing process. Chemical tanning is the most popular and widely used. However, it represents a major burden on the environment. It is important to us to communicate transparently and authentically about our open construction sites and goals, and we are constantly improving ourselves. At the moment there are still chemically tanned leather jackets in our range. However, it is our concern to reduce this stock in the future and to switch more and more to the more sustainable alternative of vegetable (vegetable) tanning.

repair and remodeling

Rethink, reduce, reuse is a guiding principle that is very important to us. Rethink: Rethink your relationship with leather and products made from natural materials. Leather, lamb and fur are not automatically bad because they are animal products.
Reduce: If you invest in quality and lovingly produced goods, you can be sure that you will still be happy about it in a few years.
Reuse: Do not throw away clothes that you no longer wear or that have defects. With leather, lamb and fur goods, we help you to create something new that will bring you long-term joy. In our opinion, repairs and alterations are the best way to preserve the value of clothing. Especially with heirlooms, a makeover can help to make old treasures fashionable and suitable for you. And a big contribution can also be made in terms of sustainability!