What Is Piñatex?
This fabric made of pineapple leaves is changing the way we think about leather
Trade your traditional animal skin fabrics in for something sustainable and durable, made of pineapples harvested in the Philippines. Piñatex sought to create a new, non-woven textile that could be commercially produced, provide positive social and economic impact, and maintain a low environmental footprint throughout its life cycle. The use of pineapple leaf fibre promotes an agricultural waste product, with minimal environmental impact.
The long fibres are extracted through a process called decortication, which is done at the plantation by the farming community
Piñatex has developed the first automated decorticating machine to assist with this process, allowing farmers to utilize greater quantities of their waste leaves. Once the leaves have been stripped of fibre the leftover biomass can be used as a nutrient-rich natural fertilizer or a biofuel, so nothing is wasted.
The rolls of non-woven mesh are then transported to Spain for specialized finishing
The fibers then get degummed and undergo an industrial process to become a non-woven mesh, which forms the base of Piñatex®. This unique process is what gives Piñatex®its leather-like appearance, creating a textile that is soft and flexible, yet very durable. The finished textile is distributed and approved for us to designers, like us, who use it as a sustainable alternative to leather in footwear and fashion accessories and more!
Piñatex FAQ
Is Piñatex Vegan Leather?
Piñatex is not a vegan leather; instead, it is a plant based product derived from pineapples leaves.
Is Piñatex Biodegradable?
Piñatex substrate is made of natural fibers and polylactic acid fibers, which is 100% biodegradable. The coating is not biodegradable; instead, it is sustainably produced with a bio-based coating in the works. Pinatex is 80% biodegradable through proper disposal.
Is Piñatex Waterproof?
Our premiere design's original Piñatex material is water-resistant, making it a repellent to rain but not waterproof.
Piñatex vs. Leather
When manufacturing standard leather over 250 different toxic heavy metals and chemicals are used such as PU a.k.a Polyurethane. This and other commonly used materials cause a severe damage to the environment during the manufacturing process and are hard to dispose.
Our main material Piñatex® uses no heavy metals, chemicals or toxic substances that could potentially harm the environment, animals or the people that process it. The substrate is made of natural fibers and polylactic acid fibers, which is 100% biodegradable. Piñatex in totality is 80% biodegradable through proper disposal, with the coating sustainably produced with a bio-based coating in the works.