We used to fix our boots. Now we throw them away and buy another synthetic pair. By Is it Leather? On LinkedIn.

At some point, convenience overtook craftsmanship. Price trumped longevity. And we started replacing instead of repairing. We are living in a culture of disposability. It’s not just phones or fast fashion. It’s furniture, appliances, bags, jackets — everything. Products that once lasted decades now barely make it through a season.

We’ve normalized the temporary. Shoes with soles that can’t be replaced. Jackets made of plastic-based “leather” that flakes and peels. Handbags that lose their shape in a year. All designed for short-term use and quick turnover.

Take synthetic “leather” alternatives. Marketed as ethical and sustainable, they’re often just plastic in disguise – PVC, PU, or worse – laminated fabrics with zero capacity for aging gracefully or being repaired. They crack, crumble, and then clog up landfills for centuries.

Meanwhile, real leather tells a different story – it’s built to last. It stretches, molds, patinas. It can be conditioned, re-dyed, resoled, restitched. A leather jacket isn’t just a garment—it’s a companion, a second skin, a storybook of seasons gone by. A good pair of leather boots can last 10, 20, 30 years or longer if you care for them.

That’s not nostalgia—it’s sustainability. We used to value repair. Cobbler shops were cornerstones of communities. Sewing machines hummed in homes. Now, those skills are fading—and the landfill mountains are growing.

The disposability mindset isn’t progress. It’s pollution. And the irony? We’ve traded renewable, natural materials for petroleum-based ones in the name of “eco-friendliness.” That’s not innovation. That’s greenwashing. We don’t need more things. We need better things – that are worth fixing!

Let’s bring back pride in keeping, not just consuming. Let’s invest in materials – like real leather – that reward care, respect, and time. Because the things we choose to repair end up repairing us, too.