Suede is no stranger to us: with the resurgence of western elements and boho chic inspirations such as Isabel Marant the past two years or so, this material has been anywhere and everywhere.
Origins
Looking back, our modern understanding of suede originated from 1860s France, at a time when Sweden was known for the softest, most pliable leather gloves across Europe. French citizens referred to them as “gants de Suéde,” directly translating to gloves from Sweden, from which the term “suede” stuck. It’s since been widely used as an umbrella term for any leather with, soft finish.
Suede quickly rose in popularity, ebbing and flowing throughout the 1900s, and earned a place in many luxury fashion houses known for their prestige and quality.
Now, suede items can be found from most clothing brands, and remains strongly ingrained in modern trends. It’s a hallmark of my pinterest boards, and a material I’ve been considering adding to my closet for a while now, initially leading me to explore this topic.
Where We See It
The possibilities with suede are truly endless, as it’s a dynamic fabric used in many basic clothing items and intricate accessories alike. I love to see how different colors of suede can be utilized to really make an outfit pop, and it’s often in combinations I wouldn’t have necessarily expected. Currently, the three most common items I see suede incorporated in are as follows:
- Bags: This one is certainly the default suede accessory, creating a beautiful base on which buckles, studs, and similar details can really shine. This is no doubt the most versatile way to add suede to your wardrobe, as a bag is simply the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.
- Jackets: Suede jackets are probably my current favorite statement piece to experiment with for a fun outfit. Once again, different colors can really bring out a little whimsy, and the soft touch the material adds on the top half of an outfit always strikes me as very chic and fun.
- Flats: Suede flats are likewise one of my favorite touches to see in an outfit, and can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I love to see the traditional camel-colored hues in this context, adding warmth and softness in a more subtle way. These are another item that I’ve recently been looking into adding to my closet, and certainly one I’ve been seeing a lot of on campus.
Ethics
As we move on from the inspirations, it’s necessary to note suede’s ethics. There has long been a discussion on whether suede, and more generally, leather, is a harmless byproduct of agriculture, or a beast of its own.
On the whole, the evidence points to the latter: the leather industry brings a whole host of problems even beyond the obvious animal ethics. While animals are not generally raised exclusively for leather products, the industry contributes to roughly 26% of major slaughterhouses’ profits, as of 2023. Additionally, the fact that the leather industry is so tightly intertwined with animal agriculture means that leather production is by association a contributor to many of the environmental externalities that already exist from raising animals, and growing the crops necessary to feed them. These are direct and indirect effects such as carbon emissions, poor resource use, deforestation, water pollution due to agricultural chemicals, and the list goes on.
Beyond what leather production contributes to from its agricultural roots, the actual process of curing and tanning leather products only makes things worse. Chemicals are used pretty much every step of the way to turn the hide into leather, ensuring proper color, texture, and durability. The process of doing so causes disastrous polluting effects to nearby waterways, uses large amounts of natural resources such as water, and creates yet more waste. In fact, as an example of such damage, a report verified by the European commission discovered that tanning 1kg of leather uses close to 2.5kg of chemicals as well as up to 250 liters of water–a process that can generate nearly 6.1kg of waste. While these numbers really just scratch the surface, and the externalities of the leather industry are rooted much deeper, they certainly give us a glimpse into the frightening implications of the leather industry.
While synthetic and plant-based alternatives to suede provide steps towards a more ethical and environmentally-conscious consumption of it, nothing is perfect when these options must still be carefully produced and create waste in the process. Knowing that, buying suede secondhand is ideally the way to go if you’d like to add the look to your closet this year. Though it might take a little time and effort to source the pieces you’re envisioning, there are truly so many unique and beautiful items that tell a story begging to be heard. All that being said, any intentional effort into buying alternatives, and even simply having the knowledge, is truly half the battle.
Final Thoughts
Suede has no doubt become a staple in today’s outfit rotations, and it brings a classic texture and feel to style that has been irresistible for centuries. The implications that come with this aspect of fashion is not to say that consumption or experimentation with style is off the table; it simply means that giving a little more attention to the effects of our purchases can make a big difference. So, next time you hope to add a form of suede to your closet, dig a little deeper into the alternatives and enjoy this trend guilt-free!