Do you love the look of leather but don’t feel great about where it comes from? Or maybe you want a product that is a little more eco-friendly? Well, you might be in luck!
These two men figured out a way to make leather out of cactus. You heard that right! Leather out of a plant!
As one of the world’s most traded commodities, leather puts a lot of strain on the environment, such as the amount of water needed throughout the process. Plus, it is hard to look past how harmful leather is to animals.
In recent years, there has been a shift, and many consumers have become more environmentally conscious, purchasing products that are good for the environment and have a long life.
The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. You might be familiar with fast fashion stores such as Forever 21, Shein, or Fashion Nova, where you can get a lot for a little.
This seems like a great deal, but the truth is these items are not made to last, eventually ending up in a landfill where they will sit for thousands of years.
This is one reason why Mexican entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez developed this method to make vegan leather that looks and feels like the leather we know.
Adrián worked with leather in the auto industry and Marte, the fashion industry. Both were aware of the environmental impact of their products and decided to do something about it.
Nopal, also known as prickly pear, has a thick skin that can create a perfect simulation of animal leather.
This leather vegan leather is called Desserto and is certified organic and doesn’t contain any palates, toxic chemicals, and PVC. It is truly a material you can feel good about using!
Whereas the tanning process of animal leather uses toxic chemicals harmful to the environment and makes, the leather is not biodegradable.
You might also be thinking, aren’t there other non-animal leathers? Yes, but those are made out of plastic and are just as harmful to the environment.
This is why cactus is the perfect alternative. It is Mexico’s most abundant plant!
The cactus leather-making process is incredibly environmentally friendly as this plant doesn’t need a lot of water. It absorbs carbon dioxide. They only take the mature leaves, which leave the rest of the cactus to continue growing.
The price point for something that is made out of Desserto might be scary at first if you are used to buying fast fashion, but it’s about the same as animal leather and is a product that can last you years and years, saving you money in the long run.
And you get to enjoy a beautiful, handmade product, knowing you’ve done something small to help the environment.
What do you think? Would you buy this? Be sure to check out the video below to hear Adrián and Marte talk about how and why they make cactus leather.
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