2021 was a year of change for us.

We made the personal decision to go plant-based for the environment, our health and the beautiful creatures on this planet. A new direction that made us question many aspects in our life, including the brand we have created and nurtured over the last 15 years.

First of all we feel strongly about the leather and wool we use for our designs. They are made by reputable small family businesses in Italy and Germany with the highest credentials in terms of environment and sustainability. We use vegetable tanned leather with hides coming as a by-product from the meat industry and dyed only with plant pigments. Natural materials that are fully biodegradable and leave no longterm footprint on our planet.

As a brand we have never engaged with short term trends. We endeavour to design timeless creations that hold the test of time and last. Respectful for the creature that (let’s face the fact) had to sacrifice their life in order for us to make the product for you to cherish and hold.

Although a good start, we wanted more. A fully plant-based and sustainable alternative material which is good for the planet and doesn’t involve the suffering of any innocent creatures.

We sourced a material that has the look and feel of leather so we can continue designing in our field of expertise. It’s an organic leather alternative made from renewable plant-based biomass. This means it regene­rates on a human time scale and does not jeopardi­se the natural resources for future generations. It’s made sustainably by a leading Italian manufacturer with the highest credentials in terms of environmentally conscious standards.

Embossed with the infamous Saffiano cross-hatch pattern, our vegan alternative leather is hard to distinguish from the real thing.

James & Monie Teal
Founders & owners of hardgraft