My First Vegan Leather Jacket is Rice, by Asif Ali Gohar

Hi all! I have decided to finally get my first vegan leather piece, as I am moving more towards more sustainability. I haven’t gone vegan, but this leather is for everyone, and it is so much better for the environment, plus it’s in a price range that is better suited to my clothing budget. I am so excited to add this new piece to my wardrobe!

So first, it was easy to find in this small boutique shop I like, but I don’t think it is in any of the major retailers yet. This made the experience of finding it so much better! I looked at each of the pieces and decided I wanted the bag, because it can go with any outfit, and I can use it all year round. A jacket would have limited me, and I wouldn’t be able to use it in those warm months. I want something I can use all the time, because I’ve never had a good leather piece and I don’t want to leave it hanging in the back of my closet half of the year.

Asif Ali Gohar picked this leather because it is not only vegan, so it avoids the use of any animal products, but it is also made in a whole new way that is better for the environment. This is why I want one, to be honest. I am trying to cause less damage to the environment, but I still want to look and feel good, so this is one of the items that I am most excited to try this year. In my reading it said that the biggest waste that is produced making this leather is water, and because the rice is grown locally and harvested then delivered directly, that water isn’t super full of chemical either. They use the safest process, and it uses so much less energy that it is much less damaging and easier to manufacture than the process of using real leather to make things. This is one of the biggest effects I can have with changing any of my clothing items, and if they make shoes soon, I’ll get those too.

I have been using my bag for about a week and it is breaking in nicely. It doesn’t feel as stiff as traditional leather right away, so it hangs well and doesn’t feel awkward in any way. The beauty of it makes me feel good just carrying it around, and it is more than just a bag to carry my things, it pulls an outfit together and makes me feel like I’m dressed for any occasion. It feels as though it will last many years, with no show of early wear, but I haven’t had it for that long yet so I could find out that I am wrong in a few weeks. It isn’t like those knock off items that show wear after you use it once though, and that gives me hope. Overall, I think this is a great purchase and I am glad that I did it! This item will be seen regularly in my update photographs in the next few weeks for sure.