Vegan leather is exploding in popularity as an alternative to animal-based leathers. We’ve been researching it ever since the first Tesla Model S with a vegan leather interior rolled into our detailing shop over 7 years ago.
The biggest thing we’ve found so far?
Vegan leather behaves differently than real leather.
What Makes Vegan Leather Different?
As more and more Tesla, Toyota and other vegan leather interiors came in for detailing, we quickly saw that vegan leather was deteriorating at a faster rate when maintained with products that weren’t designed for this unique material. We learned this is because vegan leather has very different properties than real leather:
- It’s less porous. Vegan leather doesn’t breathe the same way real leather does.
- It’s less durable. Vegan leather is far weaker than real leather.
- It’s quick to dry out. Vegan leather doesn’t retain moisture as well as real leather does.
How Do You Keep Vegan Leather in Good Shape?
Once we knew the differences between real leather and vegan leather, we set out to develop formulations for cleaning and conditioning that address these unique qualities. We knew the formulation needed to be free of animal by-products for it to be truly “vegan”, so we turned to a pair of plant-based ingredients: grape seed oil and fermented corn extract.
Why We Use Grape Seed Oil
- Promotes elasticity
- Hydrates and locks in moisture
- Prevents UV damage
- Contains antibacterial properties
- Adds softness
Why We Use Fermented Maize Extract
- Moisturizes surfaces
- Increases absorption levels for maximum ingredient efficacy
- Won’t block pores like regular leather conditioners
- Non-irritating to skin
- Reduces friction to minimize wear and tear
How Do You Clean Vegan Leather the Right Way?
Having seen cleaners for real leather dry out or even permanently damage vegan leather in our own shop, we knew our formulation needed to effectively clean without deteriorating the material. To achieve this goal, we engineered our Vegan Leather Cleanser accordingly:
- We designed it to break down any body oils, food, drink, and other organic contaminants while keeping it gentle enough to not damage vegan leather. Products for real leather can be too harsh for vegan leather’s delicate structure.
- We used grape seed oil’s hydrating properties to prevent the surface from drying out so it stays soft and elastic. Conversely, real leather products can dehydrate vegan leather.
- We added an element of plant-based polymer protection to make cleaning easier in the future, reducing wear on the surface. Most cleaners for real leather do not add protection.
How Do You Keep Vegan Leather Soft and Durable?
Considering the rigid, dried-out vegan leather car interiors we saw in our shop, it was clear that vegan leather needed a specialized conditioner that could effectively deliver moisture to the less-porous material. We formulated Vegan Leather Cream accordingly to address those concerns:
- We used a fermented maize extract to enhance absorption levels. Standard leather conditioners struggle to penetrate the topcoat of vegan leather.
- We used grape seed oil to soften the typically rigid structure of vegan leather. Conditioners for real leather weren’t as effective for preventing chipping, wrinkling, and cracking.
- We used alternatives to animal by-products such as lanolin, an ingredient found in real leather conditioners that can clog pores, stopping them from absorbing needed moisture.
- We made the formulation 100% VOC free by eliminating propylene glycol so it won’t harm the health of the user or the environment.
With these considerations in mind, we were able to engineer a complete Vegan Leather Kit that does what products for real leather can’t — maintain the durability of vegan leather while keeping it clean and soft to the touch.
100% Vegan & Cruelty Free
100% Vegan
Plant-Based Ingredients
VOC Free
Contains No Toxic VOCs
