The concept of vegan leather as a cruelty-free alternative to regular animal skin leather is emerging as fast fashion is being replaced by sustainability and compassion in both India and the US. Leather however is a dominant textile in both countries, so their technique for creating vegan fabric looks very different. Wura Layiwola, Nikki Baerson, Isabelle Marak, Jocelyn Peshia, Jamie Maron from the US and Supriyo Hazra and Yogesh Tyagi from India report on the trend In Gujarat, India, Pratik Dadhania, uses mango waste to produce a vegan version of leather.
The founder of Aamati Green Private Limited considers it an innovative solution “not just for the sake of business, but for the betterment of our planet and society.” “The process begins by collecting mango waste,which is typically discarded in mango farms, and converting it into a viscous liquid substrate which then undergoes a controlled fermentation process. During this stage, the fibrous content of the mango waste is broken down enzymatically,” informed Dadhania.
“The enzymatic breakdown and subsequent molecular activities lead to a cascading chain reaction.This reaction results in the formation of a polymer matrix. This matrix is engineered to closely replicate the structural and aesthetic properties of traditional leather, mimicking its texture, flexibility,and appearance,” he shared, adding that each sheet of vegan leather, measuring one square meter, is derived entirely from mango waste products, making .
