Years and years from now, the trends that took off in 2020 will be of great interest to fashion historians. Many of them (aka anything falling under the loungewear umbrella) will be pretty self-explanatory. Others, like the subject of this story, not quite so much. Faux (or vegan) leather is a trend that started to bubble as soon as Nanushka entered the scene a few years ago, so perhaps the fact that the trend started pre-pandemic explains why it’s so popular. Faux leather clothing isn’t new but it’s undoubtedly reached a fever pitch in 2020, and tons of brands are in on it.
So how do we know the trend is reached a fever pitch, aside from seeing it among a slew of retailers’ stock? Well, Who What Wear’s very own senior analyst Alexandra Flowers shared that people are shopping for faux leather clothing 105% more than last year. And items such as shirts, jackets/shackets, trousers, joggers, and leggings have been the top sellers among our readers.
If you’re wondering why faux leather has become one of the top trends of 2020 (for proof of that, just take a scroll through your Instagram feed), I have a few theories. For starters, even the most inexpensive pieces look surprisingly expensive, with some even passing for genuine leather. Additionally, it’s surprisingly soft and flexible (unlike genuine leather), and given its nature faux leather makes anything it’s paired with look significantly cooler.