“The Fashion Industry Doesn't Want You to Read This Book” by Jonathan Ohayon (vegan), Part 2 of 2

As we continue our conversation with Mr. Ohayon, he warns that “genuine leather” is one of the most dangerous products in the fashion industry. “They label the leather as ‘genuine leather.’” “You have kangaroo leather, pig leather, dog leather. The main one that we see will be cow leather. So, the tanning process is made to bleach the color, burn the hair, make it like a brand-new material. We add chemicals, between 50 and 250 different chemicals. And those chemicals, some of them are very carcinogenic.” “You want to wear organic cotton, organic fabrics, but leather, no. There’s a study that proves that depending on the type of plastic, it can have 4 to 20 times less impact on the environment, the production of a vegan leather, comparing [to] that of the production of actual leather.” “Most leathers are made overseas, mainly in India; that’s where you have the biggest leather production. Those villages are the places where you have the higher rate of asthma, cancer, disease. You have hundreds of testimonies, of videos, of documentaries about the impact of leather on the environment and on the people.”

Mr. Ohayon reflects on why he wrote his book. “The goal is that one of these questions – there’re 70 questions on ethical fashion – will open something in you and make you want to actually do something because there are solutions.” Mr. Ohayon shares some of the innovative materials that Arsayo uses to create stylish vegan products. “With Arsayo, our goal is always to bring them to our superior material, which is apple leather. We have cork as well. It’s the bark of the tree.” “Let me tell you, I’m working now with ‘Shop Like You Give a Damn.’ It’s a vegan and ethical fashion marketplace. Ethical fashion is here to stay, and it’s a revolution.”