As already mentioned, cork leather has many advantages. But what about the comparison of cork vs. leather? Leather is found in many areas of fashion and hobbies. But can’t you just replace leather with cork fabric?

What’s in favor of cork fabric:

In many areas, that’s exactly what’s happening. Due to the increasing awareness of and demand for sustainable raw materials and vegan alternatives, cork leather is increasingly found in everyday life. Bags, purses and other everyday items are no longer uncommon, and they serve the same purpose as their leather counterparts. Likewise, there are isolated instances of entire pieces of upholstered furniture covered in cork fabric and many other applications that are just being discovered and designed.

What speaks for leather:

Nevertheless, it cannot be said across the board that leather has had its day. A high-quality leather also has many positive properties and is very well suited for demanding applications. Animal welfare and the sustainable production of leather are of course crucial – however, cheap leather from questionable animal husbandry and chrome tanning are of concern.

Therefore, vegetable tanned leathers with a harmless origin are to be preferred. Another advantage is the formability of leather when wet. For horse riding or custom-made products, leather can be shaped to fit precisely and retain this shape, e.g. as a saddle. Another factor is edge treatment/preservation, which is more difficult with cork. With leather, this can be “polished” with a cloth – the cork fabric could fray or would have to be folded.