this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
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I bought a pair of vegan leather shoes a couple years ago that were made from cactus skin and were touted as being as long lasting and versatile as leather. Bull-fucking-shit, man! I have 10 year old leather boots that are still in great condition despite constant heavy wear. I wore those shoes only a couple times per week for about 4 months and the "leather" started falling apart. I'd love to see a leather replacement that is as good as leather, or almost as good, but cheaper. So far all of the replacements have been considerably worse and cost as much or more money. Hopefully these mushrooms end up working out.
If it's what I think it is, cactus leather is more polyurethane than prickly pear. I don't really mind there being plastic in it, like as a glue or binder, but if it's not mostly plants it shouldn't be marketed like it is.
The leather from the article is all mushroom but a terrible material for now.
There's a lot more variation in fake leathers than in the real stuff, whether it's plants or petroleum. Anecdotal and not a one to one comparison, but I've had (plastic) vegan boots last a bit longer than the leather ones before it. My cork wallet was also better than cheap leather.