Two young inventors from Mexico will unveil the first organic leather made entirely from the nopal or prickly-pear cactus offering a stylish, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative to leather.
The innovators, Adrian Lopez, and Marte Cazarez, will be traveling from Guadalajara, Mexico to the Lineapelle international leather trade exhibition in Italy, on October 2nd, 2019, where they'll present the innovative leather substitute to the top designers on Earth in hopes that the product can become a staple in the luxury fashion industry.
For two years, the men worked on creating the leather alternative that they claim is not only environmentally sustainable and wholly plant-based but is also breathable and lasts for at least a decade, according to El Heraldo de México.
The invention comes as brands and consumers increasingly turn away from inferior faux leathers made with petroleum-based plastics, that are hard to clean and far less breathable than genuine animal leather.
The nopal cactus has been a national symbol and a crucial staple of the Mexican diet. Even since pre-Hispanic times, the antioxidant-rich nopal has been prepared in various ways within the Mexican kitchen—whether mixed with meats, salads, poultry, avocado, cheeses, eggs, or blended with corn tortillas, candies, and fruit juices. The staple crop is used as feed for livestock, as well. Millions of acres across Mexico are devoted to cultivating the plant, which produces abundant amounts of both fruit and vegetables.
Esta #innovación 💡 mexicana es amigable con el medio ambiente 👌transpirable y dura al menos una década. Conócela aquí 👇👇 https://t.co/ifhG3bUNvL
— InnovacionUNAM (@InnovacionUNAM) September 28, 2019
Along with its edible qualities, the prickly pear has also been used for medicinal purposes and as a dye for textiles and murals. Mexican inventors have recently created a nopal fiber which can be used either in the aeronautics industry or as a substitute plastic for biodegradable straws and cutlery, according to The Mind Unleashed.
The two young men worked to develop this idea despite some discouraging the pair and calling the idea crazy.
This woman creates "pineapple leather" that's environmentally friendly and a vegan alternative 🍍 pic.twitter.com/D5RCyAb7YO
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 19, 2018
Lopez and Cazarez were also inspired by innovations recently coming out of Europe, such as leathers such as Frumat, an Italian textile made from the waste from processing apples, or Piñatex, a Spanish textile woven from the fibers of discarded pineapple leaves.
After a period of trial and error, the inventors made a breakthrough devising an organic blend of nopal and cotton with a proper hand feel and attractive look. Lopez and Cazarez guarantee that their product can last for ten years and has the physical and chemical properties required by the fashion, furniture, leather goods, and automotive industries.
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