The latest in alternative leather is the byproduct of our alcoholism

An innovation soon to be tested by major brands in designing sneakers and handbags, wine leather, or grape leather, has been created by an Italian tech company known as Vegea. For several months now, it has been emerging as another alternative to animal leather and another solution towards a utopia of sustainable and ethical fashion.  

Following plant-based leathers such as cactus and mushroom that have been making waves in the fashion world, here’s what you need to know about wine leather. 

The genius behind wine leather is Milan-based architect Gianpiero Tessitore, who founded Vegea. Tessitore’s research for Vegea began back in 2014 when he recognised the need for sustainable materials in fashion that were neither animal nor petroleum based. His search for an alternative led him to an environmental chemist, Francesco Merlino, who found that grape marc—the remains after grapes are pressed for wine—are excellent for sustainable materials. Twenty-six billion litres of wine is produced worldwide each year, leaving behind an equally astounding volume of waste. With patented technology and machinery by Vegea, grape marc, which includes the skins, stalks and seeds, are dried, treated, compounded and then finished. Vegea has also developed the process to be free of toxic chemicals, heavy metals or dangerous solvents. For this reason, the production of wine leather is much more environmentally friendly than that of animal leather, not to mention the ethical implications of animal leather. 

While Vegea continues to research other bio-based polymers, plants and recycled materials for use in the fashion industry, its wine leather innovation has already piqued the interest of brands like H&M, which has a goal to use only sustainable materials for its products by 2030. In addition, Vegea has already worked with brands like Pangaia to produce sneakers and Roman Raibaudi and Maison Peaux Neuves for handbags. Now we’re just waiting for someone to make a wine leather jacket in time for our motorcycle trip to the Italian vineyards.