Going vegan, there were two things I knew I was going to miss: cheese.. and leather. From leather boots to leather jackets, leather is a versatile, durable material that looks gorgeous but wrecks havoc on the environment. Unfortunately, faux leather and PVC alternatives are equally unsustainable.
Dr. Carmen Hijosa was a leather goods expert until she realized just how devastating the material’s environmental impact can be. As a result, she decided to dedicate her time to finding a suitable leather alternative. The idea she came up with? Pineapple leather.
Dr. Carmen claims on her brand’s website: “Piñatex is an innovative natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibre. The leaves are the byproduct of existing agriculture, and their use creates an additional income stream for farming communities.”
She also adds that the textile is a “natural, sustainably-sourced, cruelty free material.”
The idea may seem strange but the results are impressive. The material is made via a highly technical process. Dr. Carmen explains: “The long fibres are extracted through a process called decortication, which is done at the plantation by the farming community”.
The pineapple leather is going to be used in H&M’s Conscious Collection this Spring.
