Footwear is not just an accessory – for many, it’s a way to express themselves, their values and personality. In the footwear industry and even in wider fashion conversations, an interesting debate is becoming more popular. In this day and age, should society prioritise ethical considerations over style? As the rise of vegan leather signifies a shift in consumer values, we delve deeper into the pros and cons of each stance.

What Is Vegan Leather?

Vegan leather has been growing in popularity, especially for accessories such as bags, belts and boots, often derived from polyurethane, and when manufactured in innovative ways, it provides a very realistic appearance that is convincing of traditional leather. Vegan leather can even be created using materials like apple peels, pineapple leaves, cork, or recycled plastic – these more experimental methods are also growing in popularity, but are yet to really break into the mainstream of fashion. The general increase in demand suggests a growing appreciation for cruelty-free alternatives but also an innovative approach to sustainable fashion materials.

That being said, traditional leather is certainly still selling well today and it continues to be in high-demand. That’s why we are here to explore some of the differences between the two materials, and to ponder on the future of leather in general.

Pros of Ethical Considerations:

Animal Welfare:

Vegan leather offers a cruelty-free alternative, ensuring no animals are harmed in its production.

Environmental Impact:

Some vegan leathers, especially those sourced from recycled materials, may have a lower carbon footprint than traditional leather.

Innovation in Fashion:

The search for ethical alternatives drives innovation in material science, leading to new, exciting textures and styles.

Pros of Style Considerations:

Durability:

Traditional leather is often revered for its long-lasting nature.

Aesthetic & Feel:

Many find the texture, sheen, and feel of genuine leather unparalleled.

Historical Significance:

Traditional materials have cultural and historical significance in fashion, marking timeless classics.

Historical Context of Leather

Leather has been intertwined with human civilization for millennia. Its origins trace back to prehistoric times when ancient humans utilised animal hides for protection against the elements. These hides, once cured, provided warmth and durability that early fabrics could not.

As civilizations advanced, so did the techniques for leather treatment. In the Middle Ages, the process of tanning leather became more refined, and the material became synonymous with durability and quality. Different regions became renowned for their leather goods, from the thick sole leather of Cordoba to the fine glove leathers of France.

The Industrial Revolution brought machinery that increased production speeds and introduced newer methods of leather processing. This, in turn, allowed leather goods to be more accessible to the masses, cementing leather’s status not just as a utility but as a symbol of style and luxury.

Today, leather remains a staple in fashion, representing both tradition and luxury. However, with growing awareness of ethical and environmental questions, alternatives like vegan leather are emerging to provide choices for the modern consumer.

Now it’s common for brands to offer both traditional and vegan leather, as they understand that consumers like to have this choice themselves, rather than a brand deciding for them. For example, see the vegan range by Blundstone, the famous Chelsea boot company who are well-known for their hard wearing footwear, made of real leather. This just goes to show how influential new materials are on the market.

Caring for Leather Boots (Traditional & Vegan)

To ensure the longevity and maintain the appearance of both traditional leather and vegan leather products, proper care is essential. Here’s a general guide on how to care for each:

For Traditional Leather:

Brushing Off Dirt:

Initiate cleaning by gently brushing off accumulated dirt with a soft brush. For stubborn spots, a slightly damp cloth can be of aid. Excess moisture, however, might harm the leather.

Drying Process:

Post-cleaning, position your boots in an airy location away from direct sun and heating appliances to avoid leather dehydration.

Conditioning:

Before applying any leather maintenance product, it’s wise to test on a less visible part of the boot. Once deemed safe, use a clean cloth or brush, apply the product in a circular motion, and then wipe off the excess.

For Vegan Leather:

Simple Cleanup:

A damp cloth effectively cleans these boots. Swipe gently to avoid material damage.

Drying Technique:

Like their leather counterparts, vegan boots should be air-dried away from intense heat or sunlight.

Footbed Maintenance:

If your boots feature a detachable footbed, it’s advisable to wash it separately with a gentle soap, followed by air-drying it in a flat position.

Choosing Between Traditional & Vegan Leather

For some, the allure of traditional leather lies in its rich history and durability. Its timeless nature has cemented its place in the wardrobes of many. On the other hand, the emergence of vegan leather and other sustainable materials showcases a society increasingly attuned to its ethical footprint.

We have established that it’s not only about appearance, or even just morals. There are some fair points when it comes to wearing traditional leather, a big one being durability. The question of ethics does come into play, but remember that different cultures and individuals have a unique set of values and morals due to the many factors in life, this is ultimately a personal decision. Either way, we’ve learned that it’s not only about how something looks, there’s a lot more to consider when it comes to shopping.

So it’s evident that both ethical considerations and style have their merits. As with most aspects of fashion, the decision often boils down to personal preference and values. The beauty of the modern fashion world is its diversity, offering choices that range from contemporary and innovative to timeless and traditional.

Choosing Your Boots

When it’s time to select boots, your unique style should take centre stage. Whether you opt for vegan or traditional leather, ensure your choice resonates with your personal aesthetic and meshes well with your existing wardrobe. This way, your boots will effortlessly enhance any outfit they accompany.

As the fashion industry evolves, it gifts consumers with a myriad of choices. From vegan boots symbolising innovation and ethics to classic Chelsea boots embodying tradition and timelessness, there’s something for everyone. Ultimately, the choice between ethics and style is personal. And that’s the essence of fashion: a canvas for individual expression, where every choice is valid. Whether one leans towards the contemporary or the classic, it’s a testament to the rich tapestry of options available in the fashion world.

With 93% of people admitting being on holiday improves their wellbeing and mental health, it’s easy to see why many of us may feel down after a trip abroad. 

As we head into peak travel season, many of us will be returning from getaways and finding the adjustment back into daily life difficult. But how can we beat the blues and what causes them?

To answer this question, Psychologist and Co-founder of UK Therapy Rooms, Dr Daniel Glazer, has shared 5 tips to beat holiday blues and revealed the science behind this feeling and what it could signal for us.

Are the post-holiday blues real?

According to Dr Daniel Glazer “The holiday blues isn’t a scientific or medical term or diagnosis but certainly many people experience low mood and anxiety when returning from holiday or during a holiday season.” 

This is confirmed by surveys which show that many people do in fact feel down after taking a holiday – with 57% of us experiencing “post-holiday blues”. 

Dr Daniel Glazer explains how holiday blues can present as “feelings of sadness and low mood around the end of a holiday” but it’s also possible for these to “present as anxiety and irritability around returning to day-to-day life. This can impact sleep, appetite, motivation and energy levels.”

Why we get the post-holiday blues

Glazer doesn’t believe there is “one why”, there is likely to be a number of factors. 

Firstly, heading abroad can create opportunities for us to release ourselves from the stress of everyday life, routine and day-to-day issues. When we return to this, it can be “a sign that something in life needs attending to”

Secondly, it can be a connection to “more existential anxieties” as the start and end of something often holds emotional tension.

“At the beginning of a holiday, we are full of anticipation and by the end, it often feels that time has gone too quickly. A holiday puts us in touch with a reality that everything ends and it can be hard to return to everyday life with that sense of time passing at the forefront of our minds.”

5 ways to beat the holiday blues

Dr Daniel Glazer explains that “If the holiday blues shows itself more as anxiety and irritability then it can be helpful to use your usual strategies to manage difficult feelings such as exercise, meditation, doing something creative or being in nature”

With this in mind, UK Therapy Rooms has outlined 5 ideas for activities which can help beat the holiday blues:

1. Log your memories

One of the most rewarding elements of a holiday is the memories we bring back with us. Travelling can offer both life-changing experiences, and even just simple moments of bliss. Scrapbooking, journaling or creating a photo album is a great way to reflect and reminisce on these moments. In fact, crafts like scrapbooking and journaling can provide cognitive benefits, improving memory and providing a form of stress relief. 

If you’re not into crafts, another option is simply uploading your memories to social media. This will allow you to show gratitude for your experiences, while also acting as a form of self-expression and relationship-building. However, it’s well worth noting that balance is important here, and time online, especially using social media, should be limited both in length and to content that fulfils you. 

2. Bring your experiences home with you 

Travelling is a great opportunity to explore new experiences from hobbies, to learning a language or tasting new foods – but we often forget about these as soon as we step foot off the plane. But there can be enormous mental health benefits to learning new things.

Learning a new skill helps to boost confidence, and gives a sense of purpose and studies have foundpeople engaged in learning report feeling better about themselves and have a greater ability to cope with stress.

Bringing home some of your newfound skills, hobbies or experiences can also help you to look back fondly on your time away. Consider continuing to learn the local language of the place you visited, learning to cook your favourite dish from your time away or continuing with any hobbies you may have tried such as water sports or crafts.  

3. Spend time with loved ones

For some people, heading away abroad is a perfect opportunity to meet new people and build connections with others. Humans are social animals, used to being part of groups and so time spent with others can be key to our wellbeing. 

In fact, it’s been reported that direct person-to-person contact triggers parts of our nervous system that release a “cocktail” of neurotransmitters tasked with regulating our response to stress and anxiety.

If you’ve come back from a holiday and find yourself feeling lonely or isolated on your return, make sure to plan in time with friends and family. It’s also a great opportunity to share your experiences and show gratitude for your time away. 

4. Avoid unhealthy habits 

When we go away, we often change our habits entirely, and not always for the better. Many people stay up late, drink more and abandon routine. 

When you return, it’s important to be mindful about how much you are drinking, especially if you’re experiencing low mood, given that alcohol is a depressant. Consider swapping to mocktails and finding low, or no-alcohol drinks that you genuinely enjoy to ensure you form a healthy habit. 

Alongside this, when we’re in holiday mode, plenty of us also stay up later than normal and go without as much sleep. But on our return, it can be difficult to return to our normal routine. This can be exasperated if you’re also experiencing jet lag. 

However, sleep is essential for our wellbeing with one study finding inadequate sleep was associated with significantly increased odds of frequent mental distress. Therefore, try to return to routine as soon as possible and make use of pre-bedtime relaxation techniques to ensure you can drift off easier. 

5. Get outside and exercise 

One extremely positive benefit of our time away, is the time we spend outdoors and within nature. There’s an enormous list of benefits to spending time in nature: it can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood.

And the great news is that we only need 2 hours a week spent in nature, and this can be either as one chunk or spread out – the benefits remain the same according to studies. 

Therefore, on your return make sure you head outside to experience some natural light, nature and fresh air. This can be anything from walking and gardening to more active exercise like cycling or running.

How to know when it’s something more serious

While the holiday blues isn’t uncommon, it’s always best to be mindful if your symptoms could be a sign of something more serious. Dr Daniel Glazer notes “If these feelings interfere with functioning such as they impact significantly on sleep, appetite, work, relationships then that would be a time to seek help.”

With the football season well and truly underway, football shirts are no longer just worn by those who loyally follow their football teams, but have infiltrated fashion and culture, with influencers and artists wearing European football shirts and gym wear frequently, with Drake and Migos being among many that are seen regularly in Premier League shirts. Recently searches for AS Roma’s shirt skyrocketed after it was worn by Kim Kardashian. Menswear brand boohooMAN have analysed demand and popularity by gathering online search volumes for football clothing related terms in the last 12 months for the top 50 most social media followed clubs across the globe.

1) Real Madrid – 416,835 global searches

It should come as no surprise that the 14 time Champions League winners come as first on the list with an average monthly search of 416,835 in the last 12 months across the globe. Famed for their all white kits, it’s a perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. Despite leaving the club in 2018, browsers are still searching for ‘Real Madrid Ronaldo’ shirts more than any other player, not only is he one of the greatest footballers of all time, but he is also a fashion icon and no doubt his 10 year stint at Real Madrid has contributed to the popularity of the famous shirt. 

2) Manchester United – 390,985 global searches

In second place on the list is Manchester United, commonly known as the Red Devils. During the 2000s, their shirts were produced by Nike, but since 2014, Adidas has taken over the manufacturing of their iconic jersey. Not only are browsers interested in current or upcoming shirts, but Manchester United enthusiasts are also interested in vintage shirts, browsers are searching for the 1990 and 1999 version of jerseys as the most popular terms. 

3) Liverpool – 365,325 global searches

In third place is another English club, Liverpool, who have the third most in-demand football shirts in the world. A competitor of the Manchester United shirt, it’s interesting that both rank highly on the list. This can be explained by the fact that shoppers are also searching for vintage or retro Liverpool jerseys. Both shirts have a powerful history which stems from the iconic past and present players who have worn the shirt, resulting in a feeling of nostalgia contributing to it as a popular fashion choice. 

4) Arsenal – 358,590 global searches

It should come as no surprise that Arsenal’s ranks fourth on this list globally, but rank as the most popular in just the United Kingdom. Throughout social media, Arsenal’s yearly kit releases are praised within football fashion circles, the iconic red shirt with white sleeves combination is lauded for its feeling of north London, the roots of the club’s history. Arsenal’s players have a long held tradition of wearing long sleeved shirts, and all the players in the team wearing the same sleeve length, making it unique in the world of football which has brought it from a mainstay of London fashion, to a global fashion statement. 

5)Paris Saint-Germain – 296,520 global searches

It wouldn’t be a fashion list without a team from the fashion capital of the world, Paris Saint-Germain ranked fifth on this list. It is the only shirt on this list which is manufactured by the Jordan brand. Paris Saint-Germain’s jersey popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, this can be explained by the star personnel which wear the shirt, the influence of Neymar Jr, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé all of who are amongst the most known footballers in the world promoting the Paris Saint-Germain jersey. The study found that browsers are directly searching for Paris Saint-Germain shirts with those names on the back with Messi being the most popular in the team with an average global monthly search of 6,950. 

6) Barcelona – 290,296 global searches

Barcelona ranks sixth on this list, the blue and red stripe jersey is a popular choice amongst football jersey enthusiasts. The shirt transcends beyond European popularity with Drake often pictured in the Barcelona jersey and posting it on his Instagram. Past star footballers have also popularized the shirt, with 8,170 average monthly browsers across the globe searching for ‘Barcelona Messi’ shirts.

7) Manchester City F.C – 245,530 global searches

Manchester city F.C rank seventh on this list, four places behind their local rivals Manchester United. This can be contributed to by the fact that they have star players who wear the shirt and play for the club, such as Jack Grealish who also has a contract as a Gucci ambassador. They have an average monthly search of 245,430 for their jerseys. 

8) Chelsea – 193,810 global searches

Placing eighth on the list is Chelsea, the only other London club to place in the top ten. The club has an average monthly search volume of 193,810 in the last 12 months. The club has popular support across the globe and the blue shirt is famous with ‘retro shirts’ also being searched by fans of the shirt. 

9) Ajax – 117,039 global searches

Ajax, the Amsterdam based team is the perfect example of how football jerseys have transitioned into fashion, it’s ranking on this list is due to the 2021/22 Away edition which was inspired by Bob Marley, as the jerseys incorporated the colours of green, yellow and red for the Adidas stripes on the black shirt, with three little birds imprinted on the back. This instantly made it popular across the globe with football shirt enthusiasts looking to purchase the item, we can see this as a large number of browsers are searching for terms like ‘Ajax Bob Marley shirt’ or ‘Bob Marley Ajax kit.’ 

10)  Juventus – 91,663 global searches

Ranking tenth and the only Italian team to feature on the list is Juventus. The biggest Italian clubs’ shirts are traditionally striped, and Juventus are no exception with their classic black and white stripes throughout the years. They have an average monthly search of 91,663 in the last 12 months. Italian fashion is famous and it’s only fitting that this translates into the football world. 

A spokesman from boohooMAN has commented on the findings “Football is the biggest sport in the world and it’s understandable that football fans would fill their wardrobes with merchandise from their favourite team. The findings show that not only are shirts now worn by the star players and fans of the sport, but have transcended beyond sport into fashion, the clearest example would be Ajax’s 2021/22 Away kit, better known as the ‘Bob Marley shirt’. Despite not being directly linked to the sport, many fashion influencers are often spotted wearing football shirts as more of a fashion statement, including the most famous influencer, Kim Kardashian who wore an AS Roma jersey earlier this year.”

Since 1750, Swaine is the oldest name in luxury goods in London providing handmade luxury leather goods, elegant Brigg umbrellas and timeless Herbert Johnson, Indiana Jones’ headwear.

As one of the longest-established luxury goods houses – it embarks on a new chapter of its 273-year history, refreshing its image and range for 21st-century life, while retaining the heritage craft skills that made it a revered name in luxury.

Established in 1750 as an equestrian whip maker, Swaine later expanded its offering to suit shifting lifestyles, moving into leather goods and luggage, umbrellas and hats. Swaine represents a thread leading back to a more elegant time. Their products are made to last generations and proudly encourage their customers to look after your item and trust them for repair. Swaine is one of the most prestigious luxury brands in London. Their techniques are nearly a lost art, kept alive by their master craftsmen.

As part of this, it acquired businesses of comparable quality and reputation, bringing their expertise under the same roof, including umbrella maker Brigg and hatter Herbert Johnson, long-time supplier of the British armed forces. This unique blend of expertise earned Swaine the patronage of numerous discerning clients and 16 royal warrants.

It has also been a long-time champion of style on the big and small screens. Swaine’s products have cemented the cultural image of film’s most iconic characters, including James Bond’s self-destructing Swaine attaché case in From Russia with Love, Indiana Jones’s dust- speckled trilby, Mary Poppins’ Brigg parrot-head umbrella and most recently, Thomas Shelby’s Herbert Johnson newsboy cap in Peaky Blinders.

Now, as the brand attunes to the times, its latest evolution cements its place as a leading light in British luxury goods. Formerly known as Swaine Adeney Brigg, it has been rechristened as Swaine after its forefather, James Swaine, with a revamped house logo, while a new flagship store will opened earlier this year to complement the current boutique in Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade. This flagship, located at 126-127, New Bond Street, has been designed by leading architectural firms Malherbe Paris and Atelier Architecture and Design, who created an immersive space that reflects both the brand’s pedigree and fresh direction. The 7,000 sq. ft. store will showcase the full men’s and women’s leather goods range and Herbert Johnson hats, alongside a ‘Rain Room’ for Brigg umbrellas and spaces for private appointments and bespoke services. Bespoke workshops for leather goods and Herbert Johnson hats will also be housed above the store, continuing the brand’s long tradition of production in the heart of the British capital.

This clean, contemporary rebrand is mirrored in Swaine’s revitalised product offering. Its iconic James Bond Attaché Case, for example, has been reimagined in a sleeker, lightweight form, making it more suited to busy urban life and for the first time, a women’s equivalent has been introduced to the range. However, for those who prefer to stay true to tradition, Swaine will continue to make its legacy products to their original specification, including the heritage Bond Attaché Case, made from English bridle leather – a signature material for the brand. “Swaine is the oldest luxury brand in the world and that history is one of our greatest assets. This rebirth is about investment, elevation and moving forward to capture a new audience and generation, while maintaining our hallmark of understated British elegance”, says Carine de Koenigswarter, Chairman and CEO of Swaine. While this rebrand is its most pivotal in nearly 300 years of trade, Swaine remains a byword for enduring luxury goods and the best of British craftsmanship.