Sustainability is now an added selling point of the vegan leather collection from AG Jeans.
The line, which premiered for Holiday 2021, has dropped its second iteration with new materials that are even more environmentally friendly than the first one. The new animal-free leather employs organic biomass and other plant-based materials that eliminate toxic dimethylformamide (DMF) chemicals and employs waterborne polyurethane, which is superior to conventional polymers in terms of nontoxicity and nonflammability among other characteristics.
Overall, the brand says it is just environmentally sounder than before.
The line’s fashion factor has also been improved. “The new collection is more supple, slightly thicker, and more authentic feeling than the previous collection,” the brand said in a statement. “The new rendition has also been updated with a recycled poly lining that provides a lush sueded hand touch to the backside and is oh-so-soft against the skin. Each piece is hand finished, employing the same traditional seam sealing techniques as applied to real leather garments, and taking care to mimic real seam placements for an authentic look and feel.”
Key new items in the eight-piece women’s and men’s release include the Santana jacket, an oversized ’80s-inspired piece with detachable sleeves that can convert it to a vest, the high-waisted and slightly cropped straight-leg Cleo trousers and a unisex shacket called the Elias jacket. The collection ranges in price from $150 for a bucket hat to $425 for a jacket. The color palette is solid black, dark brown, rust or olive.
“It’s a beautiful collection that exemplifies AG’s efforts to always improve and innovate the process. Not only did we improve the quality from our first iteration, but we strived to make it more sustainable and environmentally friendly as well,” said John Rossell, the brand’s head of marketing and creative. “From a collection standpoint it epitomizes those few great leather pieces every fall wardrobe needs.”
