0
0
When thinking of leather garments, it can be difficult to imagine a type of artificial leather that truly respects the environment, animals and workers.
Synthetic leather is often used as an alternative to animal skin, even though it is actually made of plastic and processed with chemical agents, such as polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC.
Two Mexican guys from Guadalajara, Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cazárez, had a revolutionary idea: using cactus leaves it is possible to make eco-leather, thus replacing synthetic materials such as plastic. They founded their brand Desserto, which was officially presented in October last year. With their company they produce leather from cactus leaves, without using synthetic materials such as plastic. After two years of studies and experiments, Valverde and Cazárez presented their creations at Lineapelle, the largest international leather goods fair in Milan.
The basis of their idea is their origin. The cactus is extremely common in Mexico, so much so that it is almost its symbol, so the large quantity available was a plus for the idea.
On their own plantations, they produce the leather for their articles, which is sustainable and biodegradable. It is also an extremely durable material, given the nature of the plant, which can grow in the desert with little water.
Toxic chemicals are avoided in the processing, which is what happens with synthetic leathers, including PVC and polyurethane.
The Desserto company not only concentrates on the sale of finished, ready-to-use articles, but also takes care of the material still to be processed, approaching fashion houses in order to involve them more closely in a common journey towards a more eco-friendly fashion.
For Velarde and Cazáres, another important thing is that they have given people a job: their idea will help fashion, the environment but also the world of work.
This article was inspired by https://focustech.it/2020/01/20/foglie-cactus-frontiera-pelle-ecologica-271249