• conciselyverbose@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          Mushrooms are a big one, and they might have a promising path forward eventually.

          They’re just not there. Leather is extremely versatile and excellent at a bunch of different applications depending how you choose to split it and tan it (in addition to being fucking beautiful if handled correctly at the start and over time).

      • conciselyverbose@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        “Better than they used to be” is kind of meaningless when they’re still not anywhere close to competitive with trash ass bonded leather.

          • conciselyverbose@kbin.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            I have no issue with trying to find new ways to make similar products. It’s definitely interesting in terms of material science and processes. But the options aren’t particularly close to anything anyone would actually choose side by side without any of the discussion of ethics. Which, if that’s something you care about, whatever. I don’t, and won’t. That’s what a cow is.

            But if you have issue with it for whatever reason, there are plenty of perfectly fine and perfectly functional natural options for most things that don’t try to pretend to be leather. There are a variety of woven fabrics that work just fine. I’d be willing to bet that you could make some kind of waxed canvas case that’s a hell of a lot more durable than the crappy leather Apple uses for a decent bit less money.