Leather is durable, water-resistant, and timeless, so it’s unsurprising that one of man’s earliest discoveries is still used today.

For many, wearing leather is a fashion statement. It’s also used as an extra layer of protection for motorcyclists.

Back in the very early days, however, leather was used to make clothing to protect our ancestors from the elements.

Nobody thought that we could make leather from anything other than animals – until very recently.

Our shopping behaviors are changing. We’re spending more consciously, aware of the environmental impact our buying habits can have on the world beyond our own homes.

There’s been an eco-friendly and cruelty-free uprising in the past few years, with veganism spiking 3000% since 2004.

Even those who eat meat might not be comfortable wearing a dead animal – and they no longer need to.

You’d never think that the humble cactus could do anything other than brighten up your windowsill, but it turns out there’s more to this plant than meets the eye.

As it turns out, cacti can be transformed into vegan leather that pretty much looks and feels as genuine as the real thing.

Mexican entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez were the two men behind cactus leather.

They called their cactus-made leather Desserto and used the nopal (or the prickly pear) grown on their plantation in Zacatecas, Mexico for the job.

It makes sense, really – cacti have thick, rugged skin that makes them ideal leather substitutes.

In the past, Adrián and Marte had worked in the furniture, automotive, and fashion industries.

All of these industries get through a lot of leather – and the environment suffers because of it.

Many people would simply acknowledge this fact, and perhaps try to petition against the use of leather.

But Adrián and Marte had bigger plans – so they quit their jobs and got to work.

Speaking to Fashion United, Adrián said:

“The idea of using this raw material was conceived because this plant does not need any water to grow, and there is plenty of it throughout the Mexican Republic. Also, symbolically, it represents all of us Mexicans and everybody knows it.”

He added:

“Besides, to be able to incorporate this material into various industries, it is essential to count on a stable, abundant supply of raw material. We currently have 2 hectares where we cultivate nopals, as well as an expansion capacity of 40 hectares. Regarding production capacity, we have 500,000 linear meters a month.”

It sounds like the entrepreneurs have got a really good setup, and they’ve already seen plenty of success.

After debuting their product in 2019 at the Lineapelle, the world’s most important fair for leather manufacturers, industries and designers were quick to show interest in Desserto.

Adrián and Marte were told by an official that of all the sustainable products, theirs had the quality and durability to be most favored by high-end brands.

There’s a lot that goes into making cacti leather.

First, mature leaves from the cactus plants are cut, cleaned, and mashed. They’re then left to sun-dry for three days.

It’s not something everyone would have the patience for, but for these entrepreneurs, the end result is certainly worth it.

You can check out a video with more information about this clever invention below.

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Source: ADRIANO DI MARTI/ YouTube, My Positive Outlooks, Moore and Giles, Live Kindly, Fashion United