British interior designer Helen Winters has just become the first in the UK to be certified for her use of vegan, cruelty-free leather.
According to a press release, Winters received official certification from VeganDesign.org – a US-based website that acts as a platform for all things related to affordable vegan interior design – for offering leather-free options for clients at the Bournemouth-based design studio, Coral Interiors. Winters was also awarded “Designer of the Month,” which earned her a spotlight on the website.
According to the official website, the company will license its logo to “businesses that are seeking to grow by showing the socially conscious consumer that they too are making changes for a better, cleaner, safer, and more loving world for all living beings.”
“As an animal loving vegan this is a really important award for me,” said Winters. “I like to know that the products I use in my designs have been sourced humanely. I choose healthier faux alternatives in place of highly treated fabrics that don’t contain poisonous chemicals. I’m currently the only interior designer in Dorset and the south-west to be certified in vegan, cruelty-free design.”
In addition to highlighting designers, VeganDesign.org also acts as an education platform to expose the cruelties of the skins and hides industry and provides resources to designers who are interested in learning about alternatives to leather. The company will also license its logo to designers in order to attract socially-conscious consumers.
As more consumers become conscious of the cruelties behind fur and leather, more top designers and celebrities have gone public about ditching the antiquated materials. Luxury handbag designer von Holzhausen recently announced its commitment to transition to vegan leather, making its products completely cruelty-free and sustainable. Last month House of Cards star Kate Mara said she is making a conscious effort to stop purchasing leather, stating “I’m definitely more aware of it now than I ever have been, and one of my goals is to eventually not wear it at all.”
According to a 2017 report by business consultancy Grand View Research, the global faux leather industry is expected to be worth $85 billion by 2025, particularly in the footwear, furniture, and automotive sectors.
Image source: Coral Interiors
