America’s Obsession With Beef Is Killing Leather
The rise of athleisure and “vegan” clothing is also speeding the decline of an iconic U.S. industry.
Stacks of trimmed hides waiting to be shipped at Southwest Hide & Tallow in Bellingham, Washington.
Photographer: Ian Bates for BloombergU.S. consumers are eating more beef, more than they have in a decade. But a byproduct of this carnivorous hankering is piling up, unloved and unwanted. Shoppers who once coveted leather jackets and shoes are instead scooping up cheaper, synthetic alternatives, reflecting a growing ambivalence toward this former staple of American closets.
The glut of cowhides has caused prices to plummet, rendering many worthless. And just as the American love for meat has caught on around the globe, so too has the abandonment of leather, from clothing to car seats. Hides are even starting to go to landfills while the smaller leather processors are going out of business.