Cork Jewelry: What is Vegan Leather?
I was personally inspired to create a line of vegan leather jewelry for my amazing younger sister (also known at Gem Lounge Jewelry as trade show assistant, model, jeweler, and all around vegan bad ass). She really got me thinking that there has to be a way to extend my business model of using eco-friendly and recycled materials into creating a line of vegan leather jewelry with her in mind. That was my inspiration to create a full line of cork bracelets which have become an instant favorite for me and our customers alike!
So What is Vegan Leather?
There are many varieties of vegan leather which all this constitutes really is that no animals were used in the process of creating the leather. Some of these vegan leather alternative options include waxed or glazed cotton, faux leather made from polyurethane, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and cork which is what we utilize to create our vegan leather jewelry.
Is Faux Leather Ethical?
While faux leather does not use animal products in it's production there are still some ethical questions regarding how some of the varieties are produced. While some varieties are more environmentally friendly than others, PVC actually contains chloride which can cause pollution while also if burned can realize harmful chemicals. PVC also contain harmful additives like lead.
What is Pleather?
Pleather is actually created from melted plastic to create this leather alternative. While rising in popularity in the 90's, pleather is also created using polyurethane or PVC.
Benefits of Cork Jewelry
Vegan cork leather is a true vegan and environmentally friendly leather alternative. The cork is harvested from cork oak trees the majority of which comes from the Mediterranean and Portugal. The cork is harvested in strips which can be harvested every 9-12 years and causes no damage to the trees itself. These cork oak trees also enjoy a long life of up to 200 years old. What is created is a sustainable, biodegradable, waterproof, and green product which you can feel good about wearing! Here at Gem Lounge Jewelry we make a variety of cork jewelry especially our line of cork bracelets which are becoming increasingly popular and can be found online here at our store and also at retail stores around the country.