Here are some of the most exciting, innovative, sustainable alternatives to traditional animal leather that are eco-friendly, often biodegradable, and often made using agricultural waste or fast-growing plants.

Piñatex (Pineapple Leather), Cactus Leather (Desserto®), Apple Leather (AppleSkin™), Mushroom Leather (Mycelium) – e.g., Mylo™, Reishi™, etc.

Fruit fiber fabrics are a rising star in sustainable fashion, often created from agricultural waste and offering a biodegradable, vegan alternative to synthetic or animal-based textiles. These fabrics are part of the circular economy—they reuse fruit byproducts that would otherwise go to waste.

Banana Fiber (Abacá), Coconut Fiber Fabric (Malai), Grape Leather (Vegea®), Date Palm Fiber (Nabira), etc.

Algae-based textiles are an exciting frontier in sustainable fashion and material science. They're made from marine algae or microalgae, and offer lightweight, breathable, and biodegradable alternatives to conventional synthetics. Many are still emerging, but here’s a breakdown of the current and upcoming types of algae-based textiles:

Algaeing™ (by Algaeing Ltd.), Algiknit (now Keel Labs), Algiknit (now Keel Labs), Sway (Seaweed-Based Bioplastic), ZVNDER (Algae + Fungus-Based Textile), etc.