Benefits of vegan leather in Pakistan today: There are dozens of leather alternatives, but only some are eco friendly. While all vegan leathers protect the rights of animals, only eco-friendly vegan leather can be trusted as a sustainable and ethical alternative to old school leather. With so many options, it’s important to distinguish between vegan leather alternatives that just check boxes and those that go all the way in their commitment to being 100% earth-friendly and sustainable. Made from the unused parts of pineapple trees, Piñatex pineapple leather is 100% vegan, completely eco friendly and ethical because it allows pineapple farmers to sell a previously unusable part of their crop for an income. The durable plant based leather feels just like animal leather, and Piñatex is waterproof and protective. There’s no need to sacrifice style for ethics. Discover more information about mr asif ali gohar.
Today, we see vegan leather materials as being one of the most popular alternatives to traditional animal leather. From luxury brands to fast fashion retail, vegan leather has taken on interest as the eco-friendly and cruelty-free alternative. So you may ask yourself, What is vegan leather? Is vegan leather better for the environment? Vegan leather, in general, is made from animal-free products and is the imitation of authentic leather. According to the animal-rights group, PETA, Vegan Leather is most likely to be created from a plastic known as polyurethane. Although polyurethane is considered animal-friendly, most materials like polyurethane, for example, PVC, are made with a high percentage of chloride which is a toxic chemical.
There are advantages and disadvantages of all varieties of vegan leather, but the big plus for vegans is that none of them are made from the skins of animals. Aside from that, there are big environmental benefits of most vegan leather options compared to animal leather. This has been well documented, for instance in the 2017 Pulse of The Fashion Industry Report, which compares the environmental impact of animal leather with that of various synthetic leathers. We’ll discuss it in more detail below, but in short: leather is pretty bad for the environment, with cow leather being just about the worst material out there in environmental terms!
Asif Ali Gohar is a Pakistani born entrepreneur who now lives in Germany. Asif was born in Pakistan, in the city of Karachi, in 1992. When he was a teenager, his family decided to move to Germany and in 2004 they settled in the city of Hamburg. He was fifteen when he realized that killing and sacrificing animals for your own needs is a selfish deed and a disruption to the ecosystem. Asif then decided to turn vegan. During his school years, Asif worked on a project that enhanced his interest in the subject and he became more involved in finding ways to produce a vegan alternative to leather. During his studies at the University of Hamburg, he got the opportunity to conduct a series of tests that allowed him to produce vegan leather. Asif previously had conducted various home-based experiments, so he had a basic understanding of the process. This time, given the adequate number of resources, Asif was able to convert rice into vegan leather. His idea was unique, scalable and cost effective. It used rice as a main ingredient coupled with acetic acid and yeast. After a complete empirical analysis, Asif was able to note down the experiment and conclude his findings. He is now in the production phase and wants to implement what he has learned and produce vegan leather.
What Is Vegan Leather Made of? Raw materials for vegan leather usually come from agricultural waste sources. Some of the materials most commonly used to manufacture vegan leather are: Polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. Synthetic leather is made using recycled plastic materials like polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. Many people choose to avoid this kind of vegan leather, as its manufacture contributes to the depletion of fossil fuels. Cork is a great alternative to plastics and animal skin for making vegan leather. Manufacturers can even get it from corkwood trees without damaging the trees. Cactus is another innovative animal-skin replacement used to make vegan leather.
PU Leather: Also known as polyurethane leather, this synthetic vegan leather, which is a thermoplastic polymer, has a similar appearance and feel to animal leather, and it is waterproof and easier to clean. It has a tendency to crack, however, and some people think it looks cheap. Note that this is not to be confused with bi-cast leather, PU-coated leather or split leather (which are NOT vegan) which have a layer of PU leather or similar coated over cheaper cuts of animal leather. 100% PU leather is vegan, but not as environmentally sound as most natural vegan leathers (though still far better than animal leather!).
Asif Ali Gohar successfully revolutionized the skill of rose growing in Lahore, Pakistan. Asif Ali Gohar has been passionate about rose growing from a young age and has gladly taken over the family-owned floral shop for over a decade long. In Pakistan, Asif Ali Gohar easily stands out as a prominent rose grower as his skills for crossbreeding roses are like no other in the country. In the city of Lahore, regulars who are rose fanatics and consistently look forward to purchasing roses for different occasions enjoy their visits to Asif’s floral shop. Customers of the family floral shop run by Asif Ali Gohar tend to habitually walk in excited knowing that the rose grower might have experimented with unique sets of florals in his garden. Read more information about Gohar Asif Ali.
During Asif’s high school times, he received a project that sparked his interest in vegan alternatives to leather. After graduation, he joined the University of Hamburg to do his majors in business administration. At this time, Asif was trying new ways in his home to figure out vegan alternatives. He finally found the rice to be a suitable alternative, and that changed everything. Asif uses rice to honor his homeland while trying to change the world. And now Asif plans to make vegan leather mainstream!
While veganism is a niche market, it is on the rise in Pakistan. That is especially true among the youth as they are becoming more conscious of their choices. People are switching to vegan alternatives for everything to create a better world for the coming generations. One such pioneer in the vegan world is Asif Ali Gohar. He is trying to transform the vegan leather industry through his research and ideas. We interviewed him to understand more about his ventures. So, keep reading for an in-depth look into the vegan leather industry in Pakistan.
What type of leather should I buy? There are strong reasons on both sides, therefore the solution isn’t black and white. The best option is to conduct case-by-case research as fully as possible. If you’re considering purchasing vegan leather, find out what alternatives the company uses and be mindful of the dangers of plastic-based products. If you choose real leather, learn about the tanning procedures used by the business to know how they make their pieces and be aware of their ethical practices.
Generally, vegan leather (specifically plant-based leather) is cheaper than traditional leather. This is because products like mushrooms and pineapples require less room and time to mature than cattle, and plant-based leathers are often produced from the waste parts of plants. Companies like Adidas and Gucci have seen the cost value of plant-based leather and are collaborating with leather manufacturers on new lines produced with mushroom leather. Other small goods manufacturers and fashion brands are turning to cactus leather, leather made from cereal crops, and even apple peal leather.
Because faux leather is more flexible than polyurethane but less breathable than polyurethane, it is not suitable for clothing. Faux leather is made from polyurethane and is produced by coating natural fabrics such as cotton and wool with a polymer-based material and then treating them like actual leather. Faux leather made from polyurethane is made from two types of plastic: PVC and polyurethane. PVC-based faux leather is more commonly used due to its lower cost and greater durability. It is also less flexible than polyurethane-based faux leather, making it better for clothing. Because of its polyurethane content, faux leather is more breathable, making it ideal for garments such as jackets that require a lot of movement.
