Category: Materials

The Positive Benefits of Using Hemp as a Fashion Material

September 3, 2024

What is Hemp? Hemp is a versatile and sustainable plant-based material derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike its more famous cousin, marijuana, industrial hemp contains very low levels of THC (the psychoactive compound), making it unsuitable for recreational drug use. Instead, hemp is celebrated for its robust fibres, which have been used for thousands […]

Is Cork Eco-Friendly?

August 29, 2022

All You Need to Know About Cork Leather The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Today, the sector accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output, more than international flights and shipping combined. The fashion industry's environmental impact has drawn attention due to its significant carbon footprint and […]

Leap® - The New Material Made From Apple Waste Is Coming

This new bio-based material from Copenhagen is coming in 2022. If you are a subscriber to our news feed, then you may already know about existing and emerging materials in the future materials space. We also featured them on our blog, The Journal, but read on because this one is very different. What is so […]

All You Need To Know About Apple Leather

What is apple leather made of? Apple leather is considered a biomaterial. It is created using organic waste materials that are recovered before being sent to landfills. In this instance, the organic component is apple waste from the industrial apple industry. Millions of apples are cultivated every year to make juices, jams, and other food […]

Fashion Materials: Is Grosgrain Vegan?

No. Grosgrain is made with silk. We should expect something marked as 'vegan' to fully meet the requirements to be labelled vegan, right down to the individual components and materials used to make it. However, there is a distinct lack of transparency in the fashion industry, so we always advise doing a few checks yourself […]

All You Need To Know About Corn Leather

January 25, 2022

Plant leather made from grain Like many other plant leathers, corn leather is a high-quality material partly made with waste plant content. In this article, we explore this innovative material to understand how it is made and how it can be used. What is corn leather? Corn leather is an animal-friendly alternative to leather. It […]

Crocodiles and the Fashion Industry

The truth behind one of the world's most expensive materials. Crocodiles are aquatic reptiles, and because of their size, big powerful jaws, and aggressiveness, remain one of the most feared carnivores on Earth. Crocodiles, in the form we recognize them today, have roamed the earth for 80 million years, they are successful predators and once lived […]

What is PVC?

February 25, 2021

PVC - Its place in Fashion and its impact on the planet. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic that is odourless, solid, brittle, and generally white in colour. It is currently ranked as the third most widely used plastic in the world (behind polyethylene and polypropylene) . It is one of the most controversial materials […]

What is Pineapple Leather?

August 29, 2020

The latest post on The Tundra continues our exploration of innovative materials. This one details all you need to know about the material Piñatex, an alternative to leather which is made from agricultural waste from the pineapple industry.

Cactus Leather by Desserto - Yes, Cactus!

The race to produce the cleanest and most sustainable alternative to leather continues, but has the answer now been found? Let us introduce you to Desserto, an innovative vegan leather made from cactus leaves.

What is Mushroom Leather?

February 8, 2020

We are constantly researching and exploring new and innovative materials. In this article, we look at the history of Mushroom leather and how it has already caught the attention of top fashion houses. Could this organic material be the answer we have been looking for? How mushroom fabrics began It was in 2013 that Danish […]

Lessons In Leather

August 12, 2019

At a time when consumers are taking more of a conscious approach to buying clothes, understanding the environmental impact of our clothing has become more important than ever. Many people are shocked to hear that cow’s leather impacts the environment more than any other material.

Can recycled plastic bottles be luxurious?

October 19, 2018

Over the past ten years, there has been a significant shift in the perception of sustainability in the fashion industry. This has been partly due to a substantial increase in consumer awareness regarding fashion's environmental and social impacts. This has led to a growing demand for sustainable and ethical fashion options, leading designers and brands […]

What is Vegan Leather?

September 22, 2018

Synthetic leathers are called different things and can be made using a variety of different base materials. If you have ever asked yourself "what is PU leather?", "what is faux leather"or "what is PVC?" read on and let us unravel the terminology, because choosing faux leathers and vegan leathers can be more environmentally friendly than animal leather if you choose the right ones.

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