Thanks to Mexican entrepreneurs Marte Cazarez and Adrian Velarde, there’s a new vegan material on the market which has the power to replace usage of animal leather in fashion, furniture, leather goods, and the automotive industry.
The vegan material is entirely made from cactuses. They named it Desserto. This organic leather is created from the nopal cactus or the one with prickles.
The goal of these young people was to make a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative to leather. After years of hard work, they can be proud now.
Vegan Material Desserto Is Made from Cactuses
The material is partly bio-degradable and includes all the tech specifications that the above-mentioned industries require.
Moreover, it’s very breathable, flexible, and durable (up to 10 years) so it can be a viable replacement for animal leather and other non eco-friendly synthetic materials.
Giving Up to Dedicate Themselves to Desserto
Velarde and Cazarez had to quit their jobs to focus on the development of Desserto.
After two years of extensive research and development, they produced a material which is complying with all features and specifications by the industries which use animal or synthetic leather.
They showcased the material last month during the International Leather Fair Lineapelle in Milan and are working with groups from various industries about possible applications.
The two entrepreneurs were inspired mostly by the environment to create leather that’s cruelty-free. They saw that the issues of pollution was immense and serious and decided to do something about it.
Animal-based leather is treated with believe it or not, 250 distinct substances, including chromium, arsenic, cyanide, and formaldehyde.
These substances enter our waters and pollute them and harm marine life. Moreover, raising livestock for food or for skins is a major generator of CO2 emissions.
Why Did They Choose Cactus?
The entrepreneurs decided to use cactus because of its sustainability.
They explained that this raw material doesn’t need water to grow and there’s an abundance of it throughout Mexico.
Plus, it’s a symbol of Mexicans.
Development of Vegan Materials Is Thriving?
In the last couple of years, other brands have been working on vegan leathers from plants like olives and pineapples.
Earlier in 2019, H&M, the popular fashion retailer, launched a vegan jacket entirely made of pineapple leather.
In 2018, the brand Hugo Boss released vegan sneakers made from pineapple leather whereas one footwear brand from Germany sells shoes made from olives.
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