Many people believe that vegetable-tanned leather and vegan leather are the same or similar thing—much like how people confuse vegetarian and vegan diets. While this is an understandable assumption, they are actually very different. Vegetable tanning is a type of tanning method that still works with real leather, while vegan leather is faux leather meant to imitate the qualities of real leather. To help further distinguish the two, here’s what you should know.

Vegetable-Tanned Leather

Vegetable-tanned leather—or simply veg-tanned—refers to a particular method to tan an animal hide. Using chemical-free powders from tree bark, leaves, and other plant-based materials, veg-tanned leather is rich, yet natural in appearance. It also provides lovely leathery scents and a soft patina as the leather ages.

Vegetable tanning is the oldest method of tanning. While chromium tanning has mostly replaced it, you can still find veg-tanned leather. This is because the process creates leather with fundamentally unique characteristics, even though it is also more time-consuming.

Vegan Leather

The biggest difference between vegetable-tanned leather and vegan leather is that vegan leather isn’t leather at all. Using substitute materials like polyurethane, vegan leather attempts to mimic the appearance and qualities of real leather without having to source the materials from an animal. This naturally makes it appealing to followers of a vegan lifestyle because it doesn’t involve any animal products.

The biggest challenge vegan leather faces is difficulty recreating the qualities of real leather. For example, vegan leather is not as breathable, lacks the leathery smell, and can seem cheap since it can puncture or tear much more easily.

Picking Between the Two

If you need to choose between the two, it entirely depends on your preferences and lifestyle. Vegan leather is best for those who oppose the use of animal products but still want the style and aesthetics leather can provide. Vegetable-tanned leather, on the other hand, is best for people who want a traditional product that brings out the best qualities in leather.

For all your leather shopping needs, visit us at the Montana Leather Company. We have high-quality natural veg-tan leather for sale. Check out our website today!