Leather from Cacti, Caring for Animals and the Environment (4 photos)

Even today, manufacturers widely use animal skins to make a variety of products. Not only is this production cruel, it also involves the use of harmful chemicals and is harmful to the environment. But two Mexican entrepreneurs have found a way to create an eco-friendly alternative to cactus leather.







Adrián López Velarde and Mars Casares have developed a technique for turning cacti into “vegan” leather that looks so realistic it’s hard to believe it’s made from a plant. It’s also highly durable. Cacti are affordable, don’t require much water to grow, and are common throughout Mexico.





The mature leaves are cut from organically grown cacti, cleaned, crushed, and then left in the sun to dry for three days before processing. The organic manufacturing methods developed by Adriano di Marti, a company of Lopez Velard y Casares, make the bio-leather durable and hard-wearing.



The brand is currently working to make this material more accessible to small and medium businesses.