Cactus leather and more
Looking for a vegan alternative to products like leather and wool? Me too. If you’re like me and have already done a little bit of background research, you have probably run products like hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton, while looking for sustainable alternatives to the animal products used in your clothes and accessories.
There are also plastic alternatives to the animal products we consume — and they are often less sustainable than the aforementioned hemp and bamboo.
Here are a few more alternatives that you might not know existed. These alternatives can help to replace both animal products and some of the less sustainable vegan alternatives that are made out of plastics.
1. Seaweed
Vegans already have a reason to love seaweed, because it’s one of the only plant-based sources of vitamin B-12 with a high concentration of the vitamin.
A company called SeaCell has developed a fiber from seaweed which has many practical uses. According to the company the fiber has a “soft and silky” feel, and is easy on sensitive skin. It’s also biodegradable and helps to regulate moisture.
I think the fact that seaweed is chalk full of B-12 and can also be used for vegan fabrics is a good argument for cultivating seaweed! Some people are even growing seaweed at home.
2. Nettle
Apple Oak Fibre Works makes handwoven fabrics out of stinging nettle fibers.
Nettle fabric is said to look a bit like silk and is sometimes spun together with cotton. Like cotton, the fibers are breathable, absorbent, and soft.
Nettle (Urtica dioica) is also edible and can be used medicinally to reduce inflammation and may help control both blood sugar and blood pressure.
However, nettle fabrics are more often made from Himalayan Nettle (Girardinia diversifolia), a different species of nettle which has fibers with different qualities. The Himalyan Nettle grows in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. A third species Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), has also been used in Asia along with in Ancient Egypt and feudal Europe.
3. Cactus Leather
Looking for a product that is tough, durable, and water-resistant like leather, but not made from the skin of an animal? Cactus leather might be a good alternative for you.
Cactus leather can be a good alternative to the existing plastic vegan alternatives to things like shoes and handbags. The leather created by Mexican designers Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez was shown to be breathable, durable for up to 10 years, partially biodegradable and a more sustainable alternative to current synthetics.
Cactus leather like the kind made by the company Desserto can sometimes be made from agave fibers, which are a byproduct of the tequila industry. Finding a use for this waste makes it a sustainable alternative. Desserto also swears by “holistic sustainable” farming practices.
4. Fruit Leather
Like cactus leather, fruit leather is an alternative to leather that is made from plants. Like real leather, it can be durable, heat resistant, and water resistant.
The vegan company Vegatex makes a product out of apple skins that are byproduct of cider production. It’s called AppleSkin.The company also has a product called BarleySkin that is made from the spent grain used by brewers, and another product called LemonSkin made from lemons.
The company Ananas Anam makes a similar product called Pinatex out of pineapple leaves, which are recyclable and compostable. Again, this is a way of reducing waste, increasing the sustainability of the product in addition to providing a vegan alternative.
5. Mushroom Leather
A company called MycoWorks makes leather-like fabrics from Reishi mushrooms. They also make a product from the mushroom’s mycelium.
MycoWorks Designer Philip Ross has a background in mycology. Philip first used reishi mushrooms for medicinal purposes after discovering their immune-boosting qualities while working in AIDS hospice in San Francisco.
Mushroom leather is said to feel like real leather and is sustainable in addition to being vegan because it takes a small amount water and energy to produce relative to other products. It’s also extremely stylish — everyone at the party will know you’re a “fun guy.”
The sky is the limit
I really think that product designers are leaving a lot of money on the table when it comes to producing vegan and/or more sustainable alternatives to the products we love.
It’s not only a matter of ethics, it’s a matter of money! There is a lot of money to be made selling products like these. Vote with your dollars! Buy the products which are durable and functional, and which are produced sustainably and ethically.
Esoteric Epistemology 