Because choosing better means taking care of yourself and the planet.
Every time you choose a pair of shoes, you're making a deeper decision than it seems. It's not just about fashion or comfort: it's about how you walk your life, about what you leave behind with every step.
At Quica, we believe that a shoe made with natural leather isn't a luxury: it's an investment in you, your well-being, and the world we build together.
What is the difference between leather and synthetic materials?
Durability and quality that you can feel
• Natural leather breathes, adapts to your foot, and ages gracefully.
• Plastic cracks, peels, and looks artificial. It doesn't last long, and it shows.
A well-made leather shoe can last for years. How long will a plastic shoe last?
Royal comfort
• The leather molds with use and keeps the foot ventilated.
• Synthetic materials do not breathe: they generate more perspiration and bad odor.
Caring for the environment
• Although leather requires an industrial process, it is a byproduct of the food industry: it uses what already exists.
• Plastic comes from petroleum, is not biodegradable, and has been polluting for centuries.
Choosing natural leather is also a way to consume less and better.
Aesthetic value
• Leather has texture, life, patina, it changes during use, as a Cordoban client we love says, it ages well.
• Plastic tries to imitate, but fails to excite
But let's talk about the hypocrisy of terms like eco-leather or vegan leather.
What are they selling us when they call us “eco”?
What kind of world do we want to step into?
Along this path, we must speak fearlessly about something that the fashion industry often disguises: the difference between what is natural and what is synthetic, between what is real and what merely resembles it.
At Quica we work with genuine cowhide.
Why? Because we choose quality, nobility, and responsibility.
And because we don't want to be part of the deception hidden behind labels like "eco-leather," "vegan leather," or "sustainable alternatives," which are actually petroleum-derived plastics.
In countries like Italy, legislation has been in place for five years now prohibiting the labeling of any material other than leather, and in Portugal, it's been for three years. In Argentina, I understand there are some projects that would promote consumer honesty, although the issue is still uncertain. And not ecologically green.
We see daily advertisements and product sales pages where they use the word "leather" for any rubber, yes, rubber, like the one Grandma had on her kitchen table.
According to what I read in Mauricio Herzovich 's specialized publication Cuero América —I hope I'm pronouncing it correctly—Europe has banned all deception regarding ecology and durability in commercial matters. "The new rules aim to make product labeling clearer and more reliable by prohibiting the use of generic environmental claims such as 'environmentally friendly,' 'natural,' 'biodegradable,' 'climate-neutral,' or 'eco,' without any proof."
Plastic disguised as conscience
It's time to say it in all its words:
"vegan leather" is not leather.
"Eco-leather" is not ecological.
These are invented names to soften the idea that we are using plastic, often combined with textiles or plant fibers, but in minimal proportions.
• “Eco leather” = PVC or PU (plastics) + green marketing.
• “Vegan leather” = synthetic, non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived.
• “Sustainable alternatives” = often just pretty words.
These labels don't solve the problem: they actually hide it.
And where do those materials go next?
The journey of plastic footwear often ends in landscapes we cannot ignore:
• A huge concentration of waste is floating between Hawaii and California: the so-called Pacific Plastic Island . This veritable "artificial continent," discovered in 1997 by navigator Charles Moore, now occupies some 1.6 million square kilometers —more than half of Argentina's total surface area. 
• The Atacama Desert in Chile has become a graveyard for clothing and footwear discarded by fast fashion. 
• Open-air dumps where so-called “eco” products take centuries to degrade.
The environmental impact is also measured by the product's useful life, its origin and its destination.
What about leather? Is it really better?
Cowhide, like the kind we use at Quica , is a byproduct of the food industry: cattle aren't raised to make shoes. What's already there is used and transformed into something durable, useful, and beautiful.
• It is biodegradable if not treated with extreme chemicals.
• It lasts for years (decades if you take good care of it!).
• It ages gracefully, does not break or peel.
• And above all: it's real.
Fast fashion is not innocent
They tell us that synthetic is cheaper.
Yes, it may be a price. But it's very expensive for the planet.
We are sold products with short lifespans, which break, are thrown away, and are replaced… creating a vicious cycle of waste.
And the worst part: they do it wrapped in messages of supposed environmental awareness.
That's not ecology. That's green marketing.
Choosing leather is choosing less and better
At Quica, we make each shoe with the intention of accompanying you for a long time.
We don't believe in disposables.
We believe in what is authentic, in what is felt to the touch, in what leaves a mark (but not garbage).
So... why does it cost more?
Because it's worth more. Because it's not disposable. Because every pair of Quica shoes is made with premium Argentine leather, cut and assembled by hand, with expertise and love. 
Choosing leather is choosing you.
If you're concerned about the environmental impact, I understand.
That's why it's time to be honest with ourselves:
Do we want plastic shoes with cute names… or do we want to go back to trusting in what's natural, in what's made to last?
What can we do?
• Let's get informed. Let's not just take what the label says.
• Ask: What is what we buy really made of?
• Choose brands that speak to us honestly.
• Buy less, but better.
Did you know the story behind “vegan leather”?
Do you have questions about natural leather and how to care for it?
Do you also notice the difference between a leather shoe and a synthetic one?
Are you interested in learning more about the process?
Choosing leather isn't about going backwards. It's about returning to what's real.
Let's walk together toward a more honest fashion. Write to me, tell me about your experience. Your voice matters to me.
📣 If you found this content helpful, please share it with someone who also appreciates real leather!
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Mail → hola@quica.com.ar
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