Yes, that’s right, a vegan friendly textile that is made from pineapples! Whether you are a new vegan or not, or just plain curious, here is everything you need to know about pineapple leather.
Piñatex™ was discovered by Dr. Carmen Hijosa and the textile has been seven years in the making. The project originated in the Philippines, but now majority of research and development is carried out in the UK (Royal College of Art) and in Spain. The fibres that make up the textile are extracted in a process called decortication on the plantation itself by the farming community, which means that this provides an additional channel of income for farmers as well as creating a whole new sector for pineapple growing countries.
Following the extraction, the fibres are then treated in an industrial process resulting in the base of the Piñatex material. The material is then taken to a textile finishing company in Spain before it is shipped off around the world.
Sustainability
- Piñatex™ fibres are the by-product of the pineapple harvest. No extra land, water, fertilizers or pesticides are required to produce them.
- The by-product of the fibre extraction is bio-mass, which can be further converted into organic fertilizer or bio-gas.
While the textile is quite new to the market, there are already a few brands and designers using Piñatex™ such as Rombaut (a Parisian footwear label), NAE – vegan shoes, Mayya Saliba at NotJustALabel and even Puma samples, but it will surely grow throughout the fashion industry and beyond thanks to its versatility. The textile is flexible and easily dyed as well as stitched; it is also available in varying thickness.
I have a great feeling about this one and I absolutely cannot wait to see it spread even more throughout the world. Hooray for eco-friendly alternatives!
(Images: Photo via Ananas Anam; wallpaper via Think.Make.Share.)
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