Fashion label Hugo Boss is about to launch its first line of vegan footwear — a collection of sneakers for men crafted from pineapple leaf fiber.
The new product line was created in response to the rapidly growing consumer demand for more sustainable and cruelty-free fashion.
Piñatex is an innovative, sustainable and 100% cruelty-free material that makes a splendid substitute for leather. The leaves used to manufacture it are by-products from harvested pineapples, and therefore don’t need any extra resources to grow. Sourced from the Philippines, this progressive material is creating extra income for local farmers.
Designed by Dr. Carmen Hijosa over the course of seven years, Piñatex is an ideal material for footwear, accessories, clothing, indoor furniture or even automobile upholstery.
Hugo Boss describe the pineapple-leather shoes as “bold steps forward for responsible design,” with every pair of shoes featuring soles crafted from recycled TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a 50/50 cotton and linen lining, and organic cotton shoelaces. Even the four different colored dyes are plant-based.
Not only is pineapple leather much easier on the environment and kinder to animals, it is also cheaper than animal leather, selling at between $5 to $15 per square meter.
This forward-thinking fashion label continues to advance towards a more peaceful, cruelty-free future, having already discontinued the use of fur in 2016.
With over one billion animals killed for the leather industry each year, it is promising to see these environmentally friendly, cruelty-free products finding their way onto the retail market.
