New York Magazine Marks 2013 the Year of Pleather

New York Magazine has hailed 2013 “The Year of Pleather,” noting the cruelty-free material’s popularity among Hollywood celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and Madonna as well as fashion’s most prominent designers such as Joseph Altuzarra and Michael Bastian. According to the source, faux leather has become a favorite among clothing creators due to its versatility and durability—unlike cowhide, it can easily be altered for outfits’ specific needs and repels water without getting damaged. NYM reports that designers who utilize it resist marketing the fabric as “vegan leather” because they want it to be in its own category. “If you go to a vegetarian restaurant and you order a vegan burger,” says Joseph Altuzarra, who used pleather in his new fall collection, “if you’re expecting it to taste like a meat burger, you’re going to be disappointed … you have to embrace it for what it is.”