One of the most frustrating things for those who avoid animal exploitation is discovering that a seemingly cruelty-free product contains unnecessary animal ingredients. A prime example of this phenomenon is the tiny leather patch often found on clothes, bags, and other fashion items.

Levi’s jeans are a world-famous brand, celebrated for their timeless, affordable pants. Yet the inclusion of a small patch of animal skin on their premium jeans means Levi's aren’t as inclusive or compassionate as they could be.

A tiny leather patch may seem harmless, but a simple design change that embraces modern, sustainable leather alternatives could help Levi’s avoid complicity in enormous animal and human suffering.

Every year, the skins of around 270 million slaughtered cows are used for leather. While the fashion industry portrays leather as a “sustainable byproduct” of the meat industry, it is more accurately a co-product of a system that subjects cows to horrific abuse.

Cows killed for their meat and skin experience tremendous suffering. Many endure painful procedures without anesthesia, including branding, dehorning, and castration, which damage sensitive tissues and nerves. They often face neglect, exposure to harsh weather, repeated pregnancies, and inadequate veterinary care. Transport to slaughterhouses is extremely stressful, with overcrowding, hunger, thirst, injury, and extreme temperatures causing millions of deaths each year. At slaughterhouses, cows may be beaten, shocked, or dragged if sick or injured. As intelligent, emotional animals who form lifelong bonds, they endure immense psychological distress before being brutally killed.

Far from being sustainable, cattle ranching and the meat and leather it produces, is a major driver of global carbon emissions and Amazon rainforest deforestation.

The human cost is also severe. Toxic tanning chemicals, including carcinogenic chromium, are heavily regulated or banned in the US and Europe, so much of the leather industry moves to developing countries, where exploited workers, including children as young as ten, handle these dangerous substances. Exposure can cause cancer, reproductive problems, severe skin reactions, and in some tannery towns, up to 90% of workers die before the age of 50.

Levi’s already uses leather alternatives for the patch on many of their pants, so why not make it all of them?

Levi's has the option to truly opt out of all this cruelty by going fully leather free. Empathy is one of Levi’s four core values, and this simple change would demonstrate true care for people, animals, and the planet.

Take Action Now

Please join Species Unite in calling on Levi’s to elevate their classic jeans, live up to their values and ditch the leather patch on ALL their pants for good.