#KnowYour Campaign
Our flagship educational series that harnesses the power of knowledge to raise awareness about the fashion industry—its impacts, opportunities, and the practices that can lead to a more sustainable future.
Empowering Change Through Awareness
Each year, we choose one iconic element of fashion—be it a garment, a fabric, or a category—and uncover the truths hidden behind it.
From history and culture to labor and environment, each edition is a journey into the deeper layers of what we wear. By making these stories visible, we empower people to make mindful choices and reimagine fashion for a fairer, cleaner world.Did you know?
- A pair of denim jeans requires 7,500–10,000 liters of water, emits 33.4 kg of CO₂, and uses toxic dyes causing water pollution—making denim one of the most resource-intensive and polluting fabrics globally.
- Leather industry is one of the most polluting industries due to the tanning process. The wastewater discharge from Asian tanneries is more than 350 million metre cube per annum and the solid waste generation is about 4 million tons per year.
- A single cotton T-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water—enough for one person’s drinking needs for 2.5 years—and its production contributes to pesticide use, soil depletion, and significant carbon emissions.
Know Your Leather
- Week One
- Week Two
- Week Three
- Week Four
What defines leather?
A fabric, a fibre, a textile!? What Defines Leather?
The history of leather
In the 21st century, leather has become a symbol of luxury and style, used in everything from handbags and shoes, to furniture and car interiors.
Leather and Urban Tribes
💯 Since the early 1900s, leather has been a popular choice among fashion enthusiasts and the wealthy, and it remains a favourite among some of today’s most stylish figures.
Where is leather sourced from?
Did you know that the leather 👢industry sources the raw material largely from countries in the Global South?
Is chromium or vegetable tanning of leather more sustainable?
Have you ever been told that how leather is tanned is what makes the material sustainable or not?
Myth or fact: Leather is a waste of the meat industry
🔍 Leather would be more accurately defined as a ‘co-product’ of the milk and meat industry, as it is a highly valuable material of animal origin.
Craft Resource Centre: Fair trade leather craftsmanship
🌏 As complex as the leather industry is, it is also a source of income generation across Global South countries like India and Bangladesh to name a few.
SLAY with Rebecca Cappelli
💚 Watch our conversation with slay.film Director and Producer etusbeheroes
Can vegan leather be sustainable?
When seeking to avoid the shocking environmental impact of animal-drived leather, what is a sustainable alternative?
Leather alternatives
Leather alternatives are leather-like materials derived from non-animal sources. Commonly referred to as “Vegan Leather”, these materials are made of fruit waste or byproducts, plants and trees, and other bio composites.
Leatherina
As #FashionRevolutionWeek 2023 begins in two days and we reflect on the Rana Plaza tragedy to work towards a fairer fashion supply chain, we are collaborating with @wfto_fairtrade, to look at Leatherina, a Fair Trade leather manufacturer that is leading the change.
Do you #KnowYourLeather?
In partnership with @slowfashion.movement, we are highlighting the impact of leather across the supply chain and more responsible bio-based alternatives from our independent designers.
The sustainable leather paradox: durability and affordability
Sustainability in the fashion industry is nuanced, and leather is no exception.
A just transition beyond leather
Join Slow Fashion Movement in conversation with @hakamme Founding Director of @collectivefashionjustice about the final report from the ‘Under their skin’ series – ‘A just transition beyond leather’.
Secondhand leather
When you buy a preloved leather jacket instead of new, you avoid having to repeat the processes and impact; it reduces waste as well as additional demand supporting the beef industry.
Thank You For Your Support!
Campaign interactions
in 3 weeks
Unique people reached
in 3 weeks
Slow fashion supporters
across the globe
Events
Farm to Future
Join Slow Fashion Movement in conversation with leading sustainable fashion experts Emma Håkansson, Rebecca Cappelli, Besma Whayeb, Emily Stochl, Megan Doyle, Shruti Singh and Sanjana Rishi to learn and question the history, production, alternatives and sustainability of leather.
Date: April 7 2023
Time: 1:00 PM CET
Combat Greenwashing, Choose Total Ethics
Join Slow Fashion Movement for a workshop with Collective Fashion Justice Founder Emma Håkansson to learn how to spot greenwashing perpetrated by fashion brands and alternatively learn what classifies as ethical practices across fashion brands.
Date: April 12 2023
Time: 9:00 AM CET
How to Care for Leather
Join Slow Fashion Movement for a workshop with Alterre VP and Co-Founder Harmony Richards to learn care and repair techniques for your leather garments and accessories. Fair labour, female empowerment and circularity are at the heart of the women’s footwear brand.
Date: April 28 2023
Time: 5:00 PM CET
30/04/2023 Week 4
The Circular Challenge of Leather: Balancing Sustainability and Style
Fashion has served as a form of creative expression and as a means of communication that is a reflection of society for centuries. Fashion has been used for ages to express individual identity, social status, and cultural heritage. It has made it an integral part of our culture and has played a significant role in defining social norms and traditions.
How YOU Can Make a Difference
Promote
Amplify our campaign by posting Know Your Leather visuals and content on your social media pages.
Create
Spread awareness of the Know Your Leather themes and topics by creating relevant original content for your multi-media channels.
Join
Participate in Know Your Leather events including but not limited to LIVEs, panel discussions and community calls to action.
Research Sources
Campaign Testimonials
Slow fashion Movement
in solidarity with
- Any question, comment or would you like to work together? Awesome! Email us at:
- hello@slowfashion.global