Every year, farmers in the Philippines grow
millions of pineapples,
which include pineapple leaves as well as the edible fruit. Carmen
Hijosa, an industrial designer, visited the Philippines and found that
many people there used the discarded fibers from pineapple leaves to
make fabric sacks, among other products. But for the most part,
pineapple leaves were a wasted byproduct of the harvest.
Hijosa
was on a quest to find a sustainable alternative to leather. She found
her answer in pineapple leaves. After 7 years of work, she invented
Pinatex--a leather substitute made out of pineapple leaf fibers. Like
other fabrics, it can be used for bags, furniture, and even shoes, such
as these prototype Pumas.
No comments:
Post a Comment