Are Louis Vuitton bags made of animal skin?
A Louis Vuitton bag is a fashion statement. It is a luxurious and popular brand known for its high-quality and chic designs. But what materials are used to make these iconic bags? Are Louis Vuitton bags made of animal skin?
This article will discuss recent concerns regarding Louis Vuitton’s usage of animal skin in the production of their high-end goods as well as the primary material used in their bags. So, let’s take a closer look.
Are Louis Vuitton bags made of animal skin?
Yes, Louis Vuitton bags are made of skin from a variety of animals including cows, calves, pigs, lambs, and camels. In addition, LV is also said to use exotic skin from crocodiles, ostriches, lizards, and snakes to make their leather products, which has raised serious concerns among many people.
Type of leather used by Louis Vuitton to make bags
The main material used in Louis Vuitton bags is leather, which is also used in many other luxury brands.
They obtain their leather from real animal skins like lambskin, calfskin, cowhide, crocodile, and camel skin.
LV, however, uses different leathers categorized as EPI leather, Monogram Empreinte leather, Monogram Vernis, Monogram Mat leather, Vachette leather, Damier Infini, Taiga leather, grained or smooth calf leather, Mahina leather, Taurillon leather, and exotic leather.
1. EPI Leather
EPI leather is the most commonly used leather by Louis Vuitton.
They obtain it from cowhide, which is tanned with natural plant extracts during processing and then dyed. The leather is then embossed to create a grainy horizontal pattern, which is an identifiable characteristic of Louis Vuitton bags.
The grainy leather texture adds to the durability of the bags as it makes them resistant to scratches and scuff marks.
2. Monogram Empreinte leather
Empreinte leather is made of calfskin where the natural grain is pulled up during processing leaving the leather soft yet durable.
The leather is also stamped with a distinctive monogram pattern which is usually identified with Louis Vuitton.
Bags made from this leather look luxurious and are very soft to the touch.
3. Vachette leather
Vachette leather is a type of vegetable-tanned leather that is obtained from the skin of a calf.
It is not dyed or finished during processing rather it maintains its full-grain texture and natural color. Additionally, it is known for developing a patina over time due to being untreated.
LV uses Vachette leather to make the edges and handles of its bags due to its soft and smooth and natural appearance.
4. Taurillon leather
Taurillon is high-quality leather that is made from cowhide or the skin of a young bull. It has the natural appearance of leather due to the visible full grains on the surface.
These leather bags are smooth and soft to the touch yet scratch-resistant and incredibly durable.
5. Exotic leather
In recent years, Louis Vuitton has come under fire for allegedly using exotic skin in its products. PETA has accused the company of using crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and ostrich skin to make their luxury products.
LV denied these claims and has explicitly stated on its website that they only use crocodile skin.
They use crocodile skin to make not just handbags but also shoes and wallets. Of course, these are high-end products that mostly the elite can afford.
Due to concerns about animal cruelty, Louis Vuitton confirms that they only use crocodile leathers from farms that have been certified by LVMH Crocodilians Standard.
They also stated that they respect the local communities as well as ensure the conservation of the crocodiles and animal welfare.
Image source: au.louisvuitton.com
6. Mahina leather
Mahina leather is made from the skin of a lamb or calf so its bags are quite soft and supple.
It resembles Empreinte leather in that it has a similar monogram pattern and comes in a variety of colors.
However, Mahina’s monogram pattern is perforated into the leather rather than being embossed or stamped.
7. Monogram Vernis
At first glance, you might think that LV’s Vernis leather bags are made from patent leather due to the shiny dazzling finish.
But they are actually crafted from the highest quality animal leather that is embossed with the monogram pattern and varnished with a glossy finish.
Vernis leather is quite durable and can last for many years while still maintaining its shine.
Does Louis Vuitton use real leather?
Yes, LV crafts its products using 100% real leather just like Gucci. The leather is obtained from skins such as cowhide, calfskin, lambskin, and crocodile.
However, some of its products are made using canvas, which some people mistake for vinyl due to the plastic coating.
Louis Vuitton Canvas is made from 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and linen and then coated with polyvinyl chloride.
Despite being made from non-animal material, LV canvas products may not be considered vegan since certain parts like the logo and date code are often made of leather.
Where does Louis Vuitton get their leather?
LV, like all other luxury fashion brands, sources its leather from different places including France, the United States, Spain, and northern Nigeria.
Louis Vuitton actually confirmed in 2016 that some of the leather they use is sourced from some parts of Nigeria.
This could be attributed to the fact that the city of Kano, which houses the largest leather tanneries, is located in Northern Nigeria.
Other known prolific luxury brands source some of their leather from Kano tanneries as well.
Conclusion
A Louis Vuitton bag, whether it is made of fur, wool, leather, or down, exudes class.
Like many other luxury fashion brands, Louis Vuitton makes no compromises when it comes to using the best materials to make its bags.
Most of their luxury bags are made from real leather from animal skin such as cowhide, lambskin, calfskin, and crocodile exotic leather.
When it comes to exotic leather, the company obtains leather from farms that have the LVMH Crocodilians Standard certification. This shows that they are concerned about the welfare of the animals and are strictly against animal cruelty.
