Biodegradable leather sounds like a contradiction. But pineapples are changing that.
Fashion designer Carmen Hijosa transforms unused leaves from pineapple farms into a vegan leather. And that means farmers in places like the Philippines can use all of a pineapple.
It took her seven years to develop the process.
Here's a breakdown of the process. First, the fiber is extracted in the Philippines and a fabric is created. Next, it's shipped to Spain to undergo chemical processing. Then, companies can purchase the material for their products.
Some brands have already jumped on the idea and implemented it into their accessories. Products currently using traditional leather — from furniture to accessories — could be covered with pineapple in the future.
