cactus leather

Cactus leather is made out of either young or mature cactus leaves. Desserto uses the new leaves from a cactus called the prickly pear. Or you might know it as Opuntia Cacti or Nopal.

After the leaves are harvested, they are cleaned, mashed and left in the sun for three days to dry. 

We would love to tell you more about what happens next. But the truth is that the next part of the process is Desserto's patent-protected secret.  

What we do know is that the dried material is combined with various non-toxic chemicals. This is done to make the vegan cactus leather more resilient.

We've got two fun facts for you that you don't want to miss! The cactus leaves are actually harvested without damaging the mother plant. So, the plant grows new leaves in six or eight months. And it takes only around three cactus leaves to produce 1 meter of cactus leather.

Cactus leather is a smooth, soft, breathable and durable fabric. It is also resistant to abrasion, rubbing or tearing. How long does cactus leather last, you're asking? Well, it has a lifespan of around 10 years. And this is more than many vegan leather alternatives.

Also, it can be produced in plenty of colors, thicknesses and textures. Yes, cactus leather is quite the chameleon. 

Even though they both sting, cactus leather is not all roses. As a luxurious and quite new fabric, its (high) price is comparable to animal leather. So, it is not accessible to every eco-conscious consumer. Hopefully, that will change soon!

Cactus leather is used for handbags, shoes, accessories, furniture and even car interiors. Thanks to its many qualities, it is becoming more and more popular.

Do you want to discover cactus leather for yourself? Then, check out our cool and comfy shoes or beautiful bags for women.

Cactus leather is more sustainable than animal leather and even other plant-based leathers. How come? Well, cactus grows in abundance and requires very little water. Yes, it would make a perfect house plant, if you ask us.

Actually, cactus leather can easily survive (and flourish) in extreme temperatures. Don't worry. We can't relate either. But this means that there's no need for irrigation systems aka artificially applying water to the soil through tubes or sprays. So, the use of natural resources is reduced significantly.

Also, as mentioned above, while harvesting the cactus leaves, the plant itself is not damaged. This is great news as cactus is a natural carbon sink – absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Cactus is grown without any herbicides or pesticides as the soil in Mexico is very rich in nutrients. And also, cactus leather contains no toxic chemicals, phthalates or PVC.

Yet, cactus leather contains some plastic that provides support and backing. Just like other types of plant-based leathers. But Desserto uses bio-polymers. Bio-what? Shortly, bio-polymers are substances that are partially produced from renewable raw materials. This decreases the portion of fossil fuel-based carbon in this vegan leather.