When it enters a market, the world pays attention.
Apple’s influence can’t be overestimatedĪpple is, of course, a massively influential company in general. Polestar, their sister brand, will use WeaveTech, a water-based PVC material they have developed in-house.Įven Ferrari offers a leather alternative known as Mycro Prestige, while Tesla has phased out leather altogether. Volvo are following suit and will only offer leather-free interiors they will be using Nordico, a non-leather textile made from recycled plastic (PET) bottles, wood fragments from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, and corks recycled from the wine industry. has been refined over the years so that owners would struggle to tell the difference between leather and Artico. Likewise, Mercedes have used Artico-a synthetic vinyl-based leather material-in their cars since 2003. Their Evoque and Velar models feature a wool–polyester blend from Kvadrat. Land Rover are considered leaders in non-leather fabrics and sustainability. Not too long ago, it would have been almost impossible to imagine that any other material could take the place of leather in the luxury market.īut more recently, that has begun to change, with luxury car makers taking a lead – as we noted last month. Leather is still the default material for premium iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, and it is this which Apple now seeks to challenge. Today, leather is a staple in the fashion industry, and is considered a premium material used by many of the world’s leading fashion brands, as well as the material of choice for many when it comes to sofas and chairs. Cro-Magons were believed to use leather skins for warmth and protection some 50,000 years ago, and the ancient Greeks made leather clothing and sandals from around 1200BC.ĭemand for leather really took off during the industrial revolution, through mass-production of shoes and belts, with the material appreciated for its durability, and the fact that many consider its appearance to improve with age. Leather has been used to make clothing for thousands of years. Leather has thousands of years of history In other words, demand for leather helps maintain meat and dairy production, which are in turn considered to have high environmental costs. The reason is that income from leather helps sustain the rearing of cattle, which might not be profitable without that additional income source. Second, some suggest that it is more accurate to view leather as a co-product rather than a by-product of the meat and dairy industries. For example, rather few people eat veal these days, yet calves are still raised and slaughtered, because calf leather is highly prized in the fashion and luggage sectors. However, in more recent years, this view has been challenged, for two reasons.įirst, it’s argued, that leather is in some cases the primary product, not a secondary one. Additionally, it’s been argued that leather is simply a by-product of the meat and dairy industries, using materials which would otherwise go to waste. Leather has long been considered an environmentally friendly material, being long-lasting, natural, and biodegradable. It’s expected that Apple will cite environmental concerns as the reason for its decision. Later reports said that Apple was also moving away from leather for Watch bands too, again substituting a material believed to be branded as FineWoven.įurther evidence for this was provided in the fact that all Hermès Apple Watch bands – which are made from leather – have been removed from the company’s website ahead of today’s event. Our own sources last month told us that there will be no iPhone 15 leather cases this year, and this was later backed by multiple sources pointing to these being replaced with a new replaced with a new woven fabric material. While the move is not yet official, there does seem to be strong evidence that the company will this year be taking an environmental stand on the issue … Apple dropping leather – what we know We’re still awaiting today’s Apple event, but alongside the anticipated new products, we’re expecting confirmation of something which might seem relatively minor, but which could prove hugely influential: Apple dropping leather from its iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.
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