What Pineapple Leaves Can Teach Us About the Future of Fashion
Fine leather has long been one of our go-to symbols of luxury. A swanky leather bag. A well-worn pair of boots. The kind of jacket that makes an impression before you even say a word. It’s tactile, it’s timeless, and smells like the inside of an old bookstore and a new car at the same time. There’s something about it that whispers, I’m an art form that was made to last.
And to be fair, leather is durable. It’s beautiful. It’s been part of clothing and culture for thousands of years. But behind its cool, polished exterior is a murkier story.
To start, leather comes from animals, and that already comes with ethical and environmental implications. And it’s not just the animal part that’s damaging … it’s everything that comes after. The tanning process, which preserves leather and keeps it from breaking down, often relies on heavy metals like chromium which are toxic to workers and pollute waterways. Then there's deforestation for cattle farming, greenhouse gas emissions, water use … the list goes on, and it's not pretty.
So where do we go from here? How do we make something that feels like leather, lasts like leather, and honors the legacy of craftsmanship, without torching the planet in the process?
Sometimes, the answers to our biggest problems are very common items which we are already familiar with. Like the leaves of a pineapple plant.
More specifically, Piñatex - a plant-based leather alternative made from the long, fibrous leaves of pineapple plants. These leaves are normally discarded during harvest, but thanks to one woman’s creative vision, they’re now being spun into something entirely new.
The story starts with Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a leather expert who spent years working in the industry. While consulting in the Philippines, she saw firsthand the environmental toll of mass leather production - and the rich, untapped potential in natural fibers. Inspired by traditional weaving techniques and frustrated with the status quo, she set out to create a better alternative. The result? Piñatex.
Unlike synthetic "pleathers" made from petroleum-based plastics, Piñatex is made from agricultural waste. No extra land, water, or fertilizer needed. It’s lightweight but strong, breathable but sturdy, and more importantly, designed to soften and wear in over time, like something you’ve had forever.
And get this: it takes about 480 leaves to make 1 square meter of Piñatex. That’s about 16 pineapples’ leaves that would’ve otherwise rotted or been burned. Instead, they’re given a second life as shoes, bags, wallets, even car interiors. It’s not just sustainable, it’s circular.
Some designers are already embracing it - think H&M Conscious, Hugo Boss, and indie brands committed to slow fashion. And because Piñatex can be dyed, embossed, or coated for different finishes, it blends in seamlessly with more traditional materials.
So if you’re wondering how to bring this material into your own wardrobe, start small. Look for accessories made from Piñatex like a cardholder or sneakers. Support brands experimenting with plant-based textiles. Or just keep the word in your back pocket. Because knowing what goes into your clothing? That’s a power move.
Leather will always carry an air of cool. But there’s something powerful in choosing a material that respects the earth as much as the craft.
What we wear tells stories. Let’s make them good ones.
