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Faux Leather vs. Rescued Leather: The Ultimate Showdown!

Kerry Atterbury

22nd January 2026

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A slouchy, distressed looking, brown leather tote bag on a wooden table, with plants around it

No matter the colour, the leather we use at Lilly & Jude will always be green - even when it's brown, or red, or blue...

Myth-Busting Eco-Chic

The Truth About Rescued Leather vs. Faux

Let’s have a little real talk about “vegan” leather versus rescued real leather, shall we? The internet is buzzing with strong opinions. So many people assume faux leather is always the gentler choice for the planet. Actually, the story is a whole lot... squigglier.

Here’s what the research shows:

Production Emissions: Most synthetic leathers (like PU and PVC) are produced using fossil fuels. This process releases a hefty carbon footprint right into the atmosphere.
Landfill Longevity: Those same faux leathers can hang around landfills for more than 500 years before breaking down. No one needs more indestructible handbags lurking in the earth.
Water Usage: Real leather (when produced new) uses quite a bit of water, yes. But here’s the kicker: using rescued leather means we’re breathing new life into materials that would otherwise be waste. That’s a win for your wardrobe and the environment.

QUALITY, LONGEVITY, AND THE MICROPLASTIC SURPRISE

If you’re chasing that well-loved bag that goes the distance, rescued genuine leather easily outpaces the synthetics. Your artisan-crafted leather bag can last up to five times longer than most faux options. That’s fewer bags in landfills, less faff with replacements, and more years looking stylish.

But the fine print on faux: synthetic bags often shed microplastics every time you carry them, especially if they’re PU-based. These invisible particles sneak into waterways and hang about for generations.

Beautiful, brown leather Flossy handbag, with gold hardware and chain, on a wooden table with leaf patterned wallpaper in the background

Your handcrafted leather bag will just get better with age - just like you!

Ever seen a bag marketed as “eco”, "ethical" or “vegan” but wondered what’s actually in it? Many synthetics are just fossil fuels dressed in flashy colors. Rescued leather, on the other hand, takes what would be thrown away and gives it a second act as a thing of beauty.

So what should you look for if you genuinely want to shop consciously?

Check provenance: Where was the bag made? Is it mass-produced or artisan-crafted?
Material truth: Ask if the leather is rescued, or if the faux is really just plastic with a new name.
Craftsmanship: Handmade bags use less energy than factories pumping out thousands of identical copies.
Providence: Its'all well and good buying a nice cheap 'leather' bag online, but where was it actually made? Chances are it was produced in a factory in China, the manufacturing and shipping of such a bag produces a LOT of emissions.
Ethical work practices: There are many factories around the world with very questionable working practices, with workers being overworked and underpaid.

Green leather Skye clutch and crossbody bag, with a matching chevron patterned strap wrapped across the front of the bag. The bag is lying green, leaf patterned paper

Green is the new fabulous

In short, rescued leather isn’t just a compromise, it’s a conscious choice that balances ethics, style, and environmental impact. That’s the core of what I do here at Lilly & Jude every day: one-woman, small-batch crafting with genuine rescued leather, creating one-of-a-kind bags with a story.

If you fancy seeing what eco-luxury really looks like, head over to my collection and have a proper nosey.

Your bag, your planet, your choice.

Each and every bag in the Lilly & Jude collection is handcrafted in the UK using only leather that has been rescued from heading to landfill.

View our whole collection here