Question for the older heads, if this hasn't already been addressed before.
I was taking a look through some old CCS catalogs that another Pal generously scanned and the shoe selections had me wondering. The widespread prevalence of synth models, particularly with synthetic uppers, or "all synthetic materials", in the early 2000s was a little surprising to see. Besides maybe DC, DVS, and Lakai, most brands had an extensive array of synth offerings. I was curious as to why it seems the industry shifted away so drastically from synthetic materials. Were they that inferior to animal leather and suede? Did the use of synths hinder profit margins? And what do you think it would take for the footwear market to get back to that point; or are we so far into the adoption of animal-based construction that vegan shoes will forever be a market niche?