How do you like your pineapples – fresh, cooked, juiced or preserved? All thanks to a woman named Carmen Hijosa, the often discarded leaves now also serve a purpose. You can carry it in your hand like a bag, wear it as funky headgear or on your feet if you prefer. The options are as wide as the leather varieties that exist. Yes, pineapple leaves can now be used as a leather-like-textile and the best part is – you will barely tell the difference!
But how?
Piñatex, the pineapple leather product, is the brainchild of Carmen Hijosa a Spanish designer. While working as a consultant in the Philippines leather industry, Hijosa was unhappy with the quality of the products. She then took it upon herself to look for an alternative material. This was when the Barong Taglog, a traditional garment worn by Filipino men, made her realise the true versatile potential of pineapple leaves.
One of the materials used to make a Barong Tagalog, is pineapple leaves – a very strong but fine material and the rest as they say is history!
READ: How pineapple leather is made
Today, the company ananas anam exists and Piñatex is being used to make a range of products which are available for purchase on their website. After the 7 long years it took to develop this pineapple leather, the benefits are now being reaped and Puma prototypes have been made with this product.
The benefits of using pineapple leather, as a replacement for leather, are endless…
– No extra water, land or fertilizers are used in the making process.
– It is animal friendly and they’ve been certified as a Vegan Fashion Label by Peta.
– On their website it states, “No pineapples are harmed in the making of Piñatex”.
– It has provided growth and additional income for farmers.
The material is strong versatile, breathable, soft, light, flexible and can easily be printed on and dyed.
Would you wear leather made out of pineapple?