In India, a leather alternative made from algae and food and fiber waste has won the runner-up James Dyson Award for India, having been narrowly squeezed out of the top spot by a reusable EpiPen. Dubbed Kudarat, the animal-free leather is waterproof, compostable, and antimicrobial. It was created by textile designer Divya Verma of the […]
In Kerala, India, a two-year-old startup is making a leather-like material from coconut water and waste fibers. Dubbed Malai, which is Hindi for “cream” as well as the milky part of the coconut, the material is textured, water-resistant, and biodegradable. The company was founded by Zuzana Gombosova, a Slovakian fashion designer, and CS Susmith, a […]
In London, popular design publication Dezeen has done a deep dive on renewable leather alternatives as fashion and design markets look to move away from both animal-based leather and non-biodegradable petrochemical products. “Leather and fur have long epitomized luxury in the worlds of fashion, accessories and furniture,” writes Dezeen’s Jennifer Hahn. “But recently, popular opinion […]
