Gone are the days when using leather got a pile of guilt…as giving a solution to the high demand of leather, a group of undergraduates from Willem de Kooning Academie have taken upon themselves to solve one of South Holland’s biggest social issues: food waste, and converting it into wearable clothing. Inspired by a chef’s technique to mash, cook, and then dry fruits to create a candy-like “leather,” the students, developed their own hide-like material, one that not only has a host of potential applications, including fashion, but also promotes awareness of the food we throw away.
The consequential leather, unlike animal leather, comes with slight variances depending on the type of food used. A durable handbag made of mangoes, a shopping bag derived from nectarines, and a lampshade composed of pulped peaches, this so-called “fruitleather” has commendable strength and durability. The students have caught the interest of several manufacturers, including a company in Germany that makes leather seats for the likes of BMW and Porsche.
