From Fruit to Fashion, Allégorie is Giving Food Waste a Major Upgrade

Vegan Handbags Made From Food Waste

Can you believe that apples, mangos and cacti can be used to create backpacks, totes and wallets? I have always been very fascinated with textiles, and this type of leather alternative is truly amazing. I love the idea of taking waste and creating something new, especially when it comes to food waste. Approximately one-third of the world’s food is uneaten, so why not work towards turning this issue into something more practical, like a bag?! Brands like Allégorie are ahead of the game and the future of this industry.

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Reasons to Love Allégorie

Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Leather: The leather industry is known for producing a lot of waste and using harmful chemicals. If you’re a vegan, you might want to buy products that are free from animal materials. Unfortunately, many of the alternatives on the market are made from plastic or other non-sustainable materials. However, there is good news. A company called Allégorie uses waste from apples and mangos, as well as sustainably harvested cacti leaves, to make handbags that have the look and feel of leather. By using materials that would otherwise go to waste, Allégorie is helping to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

Ethically Manufactured: Allégorie exclusively collaborates with manufacturers who prioritize sustainability in their operations. These manufacturers adhere to rigorous eco-friendly standards, which entail eliminating the release of hazardous chemicals, relying on renewable energy, and achieving a net-zero water footprint. Moreover, they ensure that their skilled workers are well-compensated and provided with benefits such as health insurance.

Classic, Quality Pieces: They design all of their products to be both simple and functional. Their handbags are crafted to accompany you throughout the different activities of your day-to-day life. I can already tell that my new backpack is going to be by my side for a very long time!

The Fabrics

Mango: Did you know more than 30% of mangos are wasted during harvesting and transportation, and another 7% can be wasted in supermarkets? Through partnerships, Allégorie has collected discarded mangos from supermarkets. They then shred them down into a “smoothie” and turn them into sheets through an eco-friendly process. A water-based PU is used as a binding agent, which transforms the fruit into a leather-like material.

Apple: This is one leather alternative I’ve known for a few years, and it’s a favorite of mine. It’s not actually made from the inside of the apple, but rather the peel. 1.4 Million tons of apple peel waste is generated by the juice industry each year. They take the discarded peels and combine them with other bio-contents and water-based PU, creating a leather-like material. The feel is great, too!!

Cactus: Another interesting way to make a leather alternative is with cacti. It’s a wonderful sustainable alternative because it absorbs CO2 on lands where no other plants could live without irrigation. Instead of using the entire cactus, this textile uses the cactus leaves, all from sustainably operated farms. Therefore, the cactus is able to keep growing!