More fashion labels are going cruelty-free, replacing traditional leather with vegan leather. However, the latter is usually made from a plastic-derived material such as polyurethane, which is not eco-friendly.
Texcoco Collective wants to shake things up and produce eco-conscious bags made from sustainable, vegan, and plant-based cactus leather.
Monique Montfroy, the founder of Texcoco, wanted to make a difference after discovering the enormous waste and animal cruelty involved in producing traditional leather.
“From the water wastage to the impact it has on our planet, the effect on human lives, and of course, animal cruelty, I knew there had to be a better solution,” shared Montfroy.
The bags are handcrafted by Mexican artisans, using vegan leather from Desserto, a sustainable and environmentally-friendly material made from the Nopal cactus plant. It takes around three leaves of the plant to create one linear meter of vegan leather.
According to the brand, it has chosen cacti plants as its material because of their resilience. They can adapt to extreme weather conditions and are easy to reproduce.
Cacti can live up to 300 years and be harvested simply by cutting its mature leaves without damaging the cactus itself, with a new harvest every six to eight months. In addition, cacti can absorb high amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.
The brand stated that its cacti farm is fully organic and doesn’t use any pesticides herbicides, and harmed no other trees, fauna, or flora during the process.
“I wanted to send a message that we can enjoy beautiful goods without harming the environment. Therefore, it is important to me to make conscious choices and be aware of my environmental footprint while still being practical and looking elegant,” Montfroy concluded.
Other companies who are changing the game in vegan leather include Lovr which makes alt-leather from hemp waste and Peelsphere which uses algae and fruit skins.
