How it’s made

Frequently Asked Questions

Why have you made UpcraftedLeather?

Why have you made UpcraftedLeather?

We’ve made this material because we love leather—every bit of it. By creating materials from the bits that can be lost in the process of leather making, we can create new products with a lower carbon footprint than those made with conventional leather.

How durable is it?

How durable is it?

This evolution of UpcraftedLeather is created to offer the quality and functionality you would expect from a Coach leather product, including durability. Just as with conventional leather goods, a few simple care practices will help it to stay in its best condition for as long as possible.

What else is in UpcraftedLeather?

What else is in UpcraftedLeather?

The leather fibers in this evolution of UpcraftedLeather are hydroentangled through a 100% recycled polyester mesh made from post-consumer plastic waste. To do this, we use high pressure water from a facility in which 95% of the water is recycled. We then retan the resulting material with natural and synthetic oils and other chemicals typically used in leather tanning, before finishing this base material with a coating. We use different types of coatings depending on the desired end result.

How does UpcraftedLeather connect to Coach’s sustainability goals?

How does UpcraftedLeather connect to Coach’s sustainability goals?

This evolution of smooth UpcraftedLeather has an about 80% lower carbon footprint than conventional leather. It is just one way that we’re creating with waste and developing innovative materials to support our climate ambitions.

For more on each product’s specific carbon footprint reduction, please refer to the product pages for Coachtopia.

How should I care for my UpcraftedLeather product?

How should I care for my UpcraftedLeather product?

Care for your UpcraftedLeather product by gently wiping it with a wet cloth.

How is UpcraftedLeather different from bonded leather?

How is UpcraftedLeather different from bonded leather?

Bonded leathers typically use glue to bind leather fibers together before adhering them to a textile backing, which then provides the structure of the material. In this evolution of UpcraftedLeather, we tangle leather fibers all the way through a textile mesh using water, not glue, resulting in a material with leather fibers running all the way through it.

How is it different from Coachtopia leather?

How is it different from Coachtopia leather?

Coachtopia leather was an early development in our recycled leather fiber journey. We have developed UpcraftedLeather to raise the bar in the category, combining innovative technology with our 85+ years of leather expertise.

Will you still use Coachtopia leather?

Will you still use Coachtopia leather?

No, we are not producing new styles in Coachtopia Leather—though you may find pre-loved products for sale on Coach (Re)Loved or third-party resale platforms. In addition, we are leaning into UpcraftedLeather as our main source of recycled leather fiber material.

Is UpcraftedLeather “real” leather?

Is UpcraftedLeather “real” leather?

UpcraftedLeather is a composite material crafted with at least 50% recycled leather fibers, it is not leather. This evolution is entangled through a recycled textile mesh and is retanned and finished to give it the texture and durability you would expect from a Coach product.

Do you still use real leather?

Do you still use real leather?

Leather will always be core to Coach and our brand heritage. Yes, of course we will always offer leather within our product line. At the same time, we are actively working to identify, manage, and reduce waste associated with the creation of our leather products. Developing UpcraftedLeather is one way we’re doing this.
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