We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for health. Do you know fruits and vegetables which are rich in pulp and fiber can also be used in clothing?
Yes, fibre and pulp rich fruits like mangoes , cactus, mycelium of mushrooms which are used in textile industry for making leather products
But, What is the process of manufacturing vegan leather from farm based agriculture and how it is different from livestock , synthetic leather?
So, let us get into it.
Layers of Leather
Grain- Tough layer of leather- dense collagen fibres layer - tough and outer most layer
Corium- loose collagen fibres thin in young age of animals and it becomes thick as the age passes.
Flesh- which consists of deeper layers of skin
Genuine Leather
Full grain leather- it is not processed, only the hair from the skin of animal is removed, so it is expensive
Top grain leather- grain and corium sanded and processed , it becomes soft and uniform with loose fibre layers in it
Split Leather- which is made from the corium , which has loose layers ,can be mixed with Polyurethane for strength and durability
Bi cast Leather- It is a type of split leather in which only thin layer of hide which is covered with Polyurethane layer of synthetic material.
Bonded Leather- It is a mixture of scraps and small pieces of genuine leather (natural) which are mixed, rolled with Polyurethane and bonded with adhesives . Mostly it consists of about 15% of natural leather.
Faux is nothing but artificial leather which is an alternative to the natural leather.
PU Faux - It is made by combining Polyurethane to the base materials like polyester, cotton, nylon, or rayon which is completely vegan.
PVC Faux Leather- It is made by combining poly-vinylchloride with stabilizers , plastic and lubricants , and then applying to a base material so that they can be flexible, soft and durable.
Based on parameters like Weight, Stretchability, Softness, Insulation, Strength and Durability , quality of leather is being tested.
Leather from Mango
Mango pulp added with additives are mixed in a container and then when it evenly mixed like a Leather Material, it undergoes dehydration. Based on different types of Mangoes , the colour and quality of the depends. Then resins are added to the leather sheet and they are passed on to a oven like machine over a 100 degrees . Then pressure is applied with heat to make the leather more durable, soft and flexible.
At last , it is designed and different types of leather products like belts, hand bags, watches, shoes, wallets etc .are manufactured.
Leather from Mycelium of Mushrooms
Here, the mycelium of the mushrooms are grown in saw dust, husk and various agricultural waste, where spores are sprinkled to grow mycelium. There is a robust demand for the leather from mushrooms because of its flexibility and durability which is even better than genuine leather.
Leather from Cactus
Fabric is extracted from the stem and leaves of cactus. Here , the dyes and resins are added for its processing. It is non toxic, biodegradable and eco friendly.
Why leather from plants?
Because the fashion industry is the second biggest industry which causes pollution to the environment. So using plants as an alternative to the Genuine leather and Synthetic leather can reduce the pollution.
Leather Market Business- Global
Exports and Imports of Leather products in India (Aug- 2020 to June 2021)
Conclusion - Fashion industry is the second biggest industry which causes pollution to the environment.
Leather is most widely used and has a great demand in the fashion industry. But Leather from animal hide pollution causes methane emissions, soil contamination, using toxic chemicals while manufacturing , all the results in global warming environmental pollution and it disrupts the ecosystem.
So there's a need for replacement of genuine leather, vegan leather from plants is the best alternative when compared to Synthetic leather products.
Using plants and it's substitutes in leather making is eco friendly and has a great demand in coming days.