Best Vegan Leather Items at the SS25 Fashion Month

It is something to celebrate every time a vegan leather item (synthetic or plant-based leather alternative) appears at fashion month, and a designer brand makes a conscious choice to promote the use of animal-free leather. This fall, a few brands and designers truly elevated this disputed material to a level akin to wearable art pieces – wielding a power so great they were able to mesmerise and captivate the fashion crowd in New York, London, and Paris alike.

At Vegan Fashion Repository, we were particularly astounded by Christian Siriano‘s take on classic staple pieces – blazers, flare trousers, shorts, asymmetric top and dress – constructed entirely out of laser-cut vegan leather. Jonathan Simkhai, who has been experimenting with vegan leather for a while, and has a dedicated Vegan Leather Edit section on his official online store, presented two particularly impressive looks with a floral-appliquéd vegan leather jacket, top and midi skirt. In London, Patrick McDowell, one of the few designers who has made it his credo to redefine luxury in terms of sustainability, showcased a collection of bags made from Forager – Ecovative’s mycelium sheets layered on top of looks dyed with fermented sugars.

In Paris, Ganni and Stella McCartney led the way with innovative materials, both in variety and application. At Ganni, the SS25 collection showcased a range of new-generation fabrics, including Cycora®, Simplifyber, Oleatex™, and Tex2tex™. However, the true showstopper was a vegan leather dress that could only be born out of Ditte Reffstrup’s complicated love for both historical forms and new technology. Stella McCartney, the queen of trailblazing materials considered too innovative to work with, introduced seaweed-based Kelsun for tank tops and recycled nylon for her cloud knits, which have already become spring-summer’s 25 statement piece even before the season begins. For vegan leather enthusiasts, it was the draped vegan leather items that truly stole the show, alongside Stella’s new must-have accessory, the Ryder bag. Last but not least, Situationist is clearly a brand to watch. Irakli Rusadze’s mock-croc wide-leg pants have it all – a killer cut, a badass vibe, and a cruelty-free approach. It is precisely these kinds of statement pieces that not only establish a designer’s name in the industry, but also inspire a following for vegan materials among those who otherwise would not seek them out.