Killing Cows For Their Skins No More! This Cactus Leather Looks And Feels Just Like Real Leather

Aadhya Khatri - Mar 03, 2020

Marte Cázarez and Adrián López Velarde called their vegan leather Desserto and it feels so realistic that you can hardly guess that it was made from a plant

It is a well-known fact that leather is a huge market worth around $80 billion. However, the killing of animals, especially cows, and the harsh chemicals used have raised concerns over all over the world.

To deal with this problem, two Mexican entrepreneurs have found a way to create faux leather from cacti that has the feel and look of real leather.

leather cactus — Marte Cázarez and Adrián López Velarde called their ingenious product Desserto

Marte Cázarez and Adrián López Velarde called their ingenious product Desserto and it feels so realistic that you can hardly guess that it was made from a plant. The two men have their own cactus plantation in Zacatecas, a Mexican state. Cacti have thick and rugged skin that makes them perfect to be leather’s vegan alternative.

According to López Velarde, they came up with the idea because cacti are readily available everywhere in Mexico. They do not need water to grow and they are also the symbol of their country.

Another reason is that if they want to mass produce Desserto, the two entrepreneurs need an abundant source of raw material. They now have 2 hectares to cultivate and they can expand it to 40 hectares. The production capacity is about 500,000 linear meters per month.

Mature leaves of cacti are cut, cleaned, mashed, and left out in the sun to dry for three days before being processed. The next step is to use a method devised by Marte Cázarez and Adrián López Velarde themselves to dye the cacti. After processing, what we have is certified organic faux leather that can last for around a decade.

leather cactus process — Mature leaves of cacti are cut, cleaned, mashed, and left out in the sun to dry for three days before being processed

In comparison with synthetic leather, Desserto has the edge in the breathability and that cactus leather is partially biodegradable, which makes for an ideal alternative that does not upset the environment.

At Lineapelle, the most important fair for leather manufacturers in the world, Desserto received lots of positive reception for its softness, colors, and flexibility.

So now we reason to believe that killing animals, especially cows, for their leather might soon be a thing of the past.

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