Vegan alternative: more and more designers rely on cactus leather

Sustainability plays an increasingly important role in the fashion industry. Designers rely less and less on real furs and animal leather. For the latter, there is now a particularly environmentally friendly and yet high-quality alternative: cactus leather. This is not only vegan, but also does not leave a large ecological footprint.

Cultivation and harvest are sustainable

Nopal cacti, which have also found a place in many living rooms in this country, are currently cultivated and used for the leather. The prickly pear is widespread, especially in Mexico, needs little water and no pesticides because it is very robust. When harvesting, only the top part is removed, leaving the root. This allows the plant to grow back easily.

Similar feel to animal leather

In contrast to conventional leather, no toxic chemicals are required in the production of the leather. Compared to artificial leather, cactus leather is breathable and therefore more comfortable to wear on the skin. In terms of feel, it should be comparable to animal leather. In the meantime, some companies and designers are already working with the vegan leather alternative. The bags convince at first sight, optically no differences can be seen.

Disadvantage: Expensive and shorter shelf life

There are still a few, albeit justifiable, disadvantages with vegan leather: It is not cheap and is usually considered a luxury material. Basically, cactus leather is considered to be resistant and durable, but has a shorter shelf life compared to animal leather.

Queen Máxima relies on cactus leather

The sustainable trend has now also arrived at the Royals. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (51) wore a green cactus leather skirt during a performance in Amsterdam in February 2022. The chic it-piece came from a collection by the Belgian fashion house Natan.