The best brands of sustainable vegan belts
If you wear a belt to hold your trousers up (or just as a fashion accessory) here are some animal-kind brands, from eco-cork to sustainable vegan leathers.
Most leather is not a by-product of meat, and often made in the far east, where animal welfare laws are lax. And the tanning process is highly polluting to the planet, and can be cancerous for workers.
Donate unwanted belts to small charity shops (that don’t test on animals). Frayed or stained ones can be deposited in textile banks (materials are shredded to make insulation and other industrial goods).
Corkor vegan leather belts from Portugal
Corkor is a quality Portuguese brand, which makes use of local cork, to fashion gorgeous belts for men and women, to accompany their other items like bags, wallets and passport holders.
Cork has a similar texture to leather, and does not require trees to be chopped down. The bark is simply stripped from trees in the Mediterranean every nine years.
Keeping the cork industry alive (in a world of plastic wine corks) is important, as it stops forests being chopped down for industry, which in turn keeps forests protected, for local wildlife to feed and shelter.
Watson & Wolfe (luxury vegan leather belts)
Watson & Wolfe (London) makes premium vegan leather belts, made with luxury eco materials like non-food-grade corn, sold in luxury gift packaging. Offered in classic black or elegant dark brown, these are made ethically in Portugal, designed to last years.
These belts have three layers a faux nubuck, a lining and top layer), all bonded and securely stitched. Many feature rectangular buckles in polished silver (sold in four sizes).
Solari Milano (vegan Italian leather belts)
Solari Milano (Italy) again makes luxury eco-vegan-leather belts, often making use of cork. These are handcrafted in beautiful Florence, bonded and stitched for durability.
Again these belts have three layers (a base and top faux leather material, with a microfiber lining). And feature silver buckles.
Votch sustainable vegan leather belts
Votch (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) is a wonderful pioneering brand of vegan leather belts, founded by a woman when she was in hospital with a condition that made her skin fall off. She vowed that when she got better, she would create a leather-free fashion brand that led animals keep their skins.
The range includes classic slim or chunky belts, plus bio-based bamboo braided belts, and even cowboy-style buckle belts!
If laundering nylon belts, use a microfiber filter to stop microplastics escaping the machine, and going into the sea.
Like all items at Votch, a portion of profits each month, is donated to various animal welfare non-profits.
