PHL-sourced vegan leather wins PETA seal of approval

A new type of leather has won animal rights organization PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) seal of approval for its plant-based origins and "cruelty-free" designs.

Piñatex, created by budding textile company Ananas Anam, is made from the fibers of pineapple leaves grown in the Philippines, a byproduct of the fruit's harvest.

 

A photo posted by Piñatex (@pinatex_official) on

Jan 20, 2016 at 2:33am PST

In a statement sent to the press, PETA said that Piñatex is the first fabric to receive a "PETA-Approved Vegan" logo for its sustainable, high-performance vegan leather.

"Ananas Anam's Piñatex fabric uses cutting-edge technology to create cruelty-free designs that are both sustainable and chic," said PETA Vice President Jason Baker.

"PETA celebrates innovations that show how outdated wearing animal skins is and how easy it is to look fabulous while being kind to all living beings," he added.

Carmen Hijosa, founder of Ananas Anam, had visited the Philippines in the 1990s to work as consultant in the leather-goods industry.

She was prompted to look for leather alternatives after witnessing the toxic impact the leather industry had in the environment. She found inspiration in the Barong Tagalog, which are woven using fibers of pineapple leaves.

In addition to its animal-friendly technology, Hijosa's company provides support to Filipino farmers who are able to sell the pineapple fibers, which are extracted in processed in the country before being shipped abroad for final processing.

Piñatex has already begun supplying designers and shops with its product.

Fashion brands Po-Zu, nae, and Vegatar are some of its pioneer clients. — AT, GMA News