On Thursday, 5 December 2024, Pantone announced Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230) as the Colour of the Year 2025. Ironically, the selection of this soft and comforting shade of brown feels like a plot twist amidst an increasingly polarised real world and an overstimulated, hype-driven digital realm. For vegan fashion, Mocha Mousse presents both challenges and opportunities, as brown shades are widely regarded as one of the most popular choices for leather clothing and accessories, whether animal-based or alternative.
For this week’s Vegan Curator edit, we have selected the coolest items crafted from leather alternatives in Pantone’s 2025 colour (or something close enough). And yes, feel free to use this edit as direct inspiration for your Christmas gift shopping!
Estimon
Estimon‘s founder, Marta Sieradzka, has taken it upon herself to use only innovative plant-based leather alternatives in order to make sure each item is as cruelty-free as it is sustainable. This staple shopper bag is crafted from corn leather, and can easily hold a laptop or anything up to A4 size.
VFR’s pick: Shopper bag, corn leather
Regular price: 890.00 PLN
Corkor
We strongly suggest everybody to take a closer look at cork leather and notice that its natural colour does bear some strong resemblance to Mocha Mousse. Harvested and crafted from cork tree bark, cork leather is Portugal’s take on sustainable, cruelty-free leather alternative that is gaining traction as we speak.
VFR’s pick: Crossbody Pouch (horizontal)
Regular price: €149.00
Rapanui
Rapanui‘s mission to ensure fair treatment for people, the planet, and animals is realised through a steadfast commitment to GOTS-certified organic cotton and the recycling of old synthetic clothing into new fibres for items where cotton cannot be used. This cardigan’s colour is as close to Mocha Mousse as it gets.
VFR’s pick: Brook Knitted Cardigan
Regular price: €73,95
Terra Tribe
Terra Tribe, as the name suggests, is all about the earth element. The brand uses locally manufactured Tencel made from eucalyptus wood pulp, organic cotton, hand-woven hemp and linen. No electricity is used in this crafty process of hand-weaving of fabrics. Prints are made with plant-based dyes.
VFR’s pick: Arizona shirt
Regular price approx. ₹6,384.00
Inaska
Inaska is a brand founded by three women who sought to free the seas of the world from plastic, and have already cleared over 8,6 tons of plastic waste since 2016. And to think about it, it all began with a desire for some nice swimwear.
VFR’s pick: Unisex jogging hose
Regular price €89,00
Mandala
Mandala is another brand led entirely by women – even the factory workers are all women – dedicated to creating everything yoga- and fitness-related. The brand has earned every major sustainability certification available, and that alone deserves a special shout-out for the steadfast commitment.
VFR’s pick: The Rolldown yoga pants
Regular price: €79,00
Empress of Heels
Founded by Birgit Sas-Sundquest, Empress of Heels offers everything a woman needs to conquer the world: heels that are as classy as they are comfortable. The AI-powered ‘Find your size’ tool has already proven highly effective at solving the literally painful struggle of finding the perfect fit. And yes, 70 mm is high enough.
VFR’s pick: The Brown 70 mm heels
Regular price: €95,00
Ethik
Yes, we couldn’t get enough of last week’s Ethik‘s epic pair of oxfords, and have circled back this week for those oldschool loafers in a perfect shade of Mocha Mousse.
VFR’s pick: Hamilton loafers
Regular price: ₹3,100.00
Bohema
Bohema Clothing has gained some serious following by being the first brand ever to manufacture shoes out of cactus leather. This pair of shoes comes with a two-year guarantee, and can be delivered with additional warm-keeping layer if requested. One simply has to trust a Pole when it comes to keeping warm, especially if these are manufactured right at the foot of Carpathian mountains.
VFR’s pick: Workers boots
Regular price: PLN599,00