If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you’ll argue that there’s no such thing as ethical leather, and for nine years when I was a vegetarian back in the day, I’d probably side with you. But, these are the facts: skins, furs and leathers that are a by-product of the meat industry are better off repurposed than ending up in landfill. Ethically sourced (by-product) leather is the only kind that should ever hang in your closet, and I believe every woman deserves to own one high quality, handcrafted, sustainably dyed and ethically sourced leather garment – if she wants to.
My one indulgent leather garment is a Don’t Do Pretty skirt, and it’s probably the most sin-free leather you can buy. It’s 100 per cent handmade in Adelaide, and the textiles are sourced from suppliers who adhere to Australian standards of waste management during the production phase. It’s made by a label that stands up against exploitation and pollution, and it is of such high quality that I’ll be taking it to my grave. Not literally, what with the hazards of leather decomposition and all, but this bad boy is a lifetime investment, and a cross-seasonal wardrobe staple.
I’ve paired it with Preston Zly boots, a boyfriend t-shirt and my Great Grandmother’s woollen vest, for something a little preppy and different. If you’re going to do leather, make sure you do it well, do your homework, and only buy it if it's ethically made.
Photographer: Peter Berzanskis
HMUA: Love Hawkridge
The Fashion Advocate x
