Genuine leather or vegan leather: why we chose the long view

At La Compagnie du Kraft, every material is a deliberate choice. Not a marketing trick. Not a passing trend. A commitment over time. The genuine leather we use for our notebooks is not a habit, but a conviction. Faced with the rise of so-called vegan or synthetic leathers, often presented as more ethical, we chose transparency over convenience.

Durability, aesthetics, real-life use, overall environmental impact: behind these words lies a reality far more nuanced than it may seem. Let us take the time to look at it honestly.

Genuine leather, vegan leather, synthetic leather: what are we really talking about?

Genuine leather is a living material. Made from animal hides, it is transformed to last, to resist, and to evolve. Full-grain leather — the one we use — preserves the natural surface of the hide, without artificial correction.

So-called “vegan leather” is, in most cases, a misuse of language. It is generally a composite material made from plant fibers… bonded together with synthetic, petroleum-based resins. As for synthetic leather, it is entirely plastic, even when wrapped in green rhetoric.

The real question is therefore not: animal leather or not. The real question is: which material will stand the test of time, without cracking, peeling, or needing replacement every couple of years?

Durability first: time as the ultimate judge

A full-grain leather notebook lasts for years. It resists friction, repeated bending, UV exposure, and moderate humidity. Where imitation leather cracks, genuine leather softens.

We design notebooks meant to be used, carried, handled — not displayed on a shelf. Full-grain leather has a natural mechanical resistance far superior to vegetal or synthetic alternatives.

An object that lasts twenty years replaces ten objects that last two. A simple equation, too often overlooked.

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