To be honest, we asked ourselves that too. Some time ago we came into contact with this extraordinary material through a tip. Someone told us about it and we also read a report about it.
Of course, we immediately researched further and wanted to get our own idea of this material. We then ordered a few square meters as a sample. We are not completely inexperienced with leather alternatives. Back in 2017, we were one of the few to bring an entire sandal collection onto the market using the plant-based material Piñatex. Above all, we were one of the few who managed to process the material in such a way that it can have a certain level of durability, robustness and durability.
But the cactus leather from Desserto® is in a different league. In fact, the manufacturer has managed to create a high-quality product on a biological basis, usually with a cotton fabric as a base and a great surface treatment, which can certainly compete with the properties of animal leather. We've only known the material for just over a year now. Nevertheless, some Único have already manufactured barefoot shoes and have even made two upon customer request. But a longer self-test with regard to durability, abrasion values and overall service life was also important to us. Sure, you always have to make a few compromises, but the vegan organic cactus leather made from Nopal absolutely convinced us. Especially when wet, it demonstrated solid, natural repellency thanks to its closed surface. But it also has great properties in terms of convenience and workability.
So what exactly is cactus leather?
It is the world's first extremely sustainable and environmentally friendly vegan organic material made from nopal cactus, also known as prickly pear. It is grown on a ranch in Mexico, in the state of Zacatecas. The cacti are selected and cut on the ranch. Here only the mature leaves of the plant are used without damaging the cactus itself. The harvest rhythm takes place every 6-8 months. Additionally, no irrigation system is used for the cactus; it grows exclusively with the little rainwater and the earth minerals present. These are very rich in the Zacatecas region and great for the variety of cacti that are planted there. The selected cactus is very resilient and strong, it can tolerate low temperatures in winter without dying, and its thorns are very small, making it easier and safer for the local agricultural team to harvest.
We tested and tried out different thicknesses, structures and material compositions. Of course, the most important thing for us is durability. The first major annual endurance test shows that it is significantly more robust than, for example, Piñatex and can keep up quite well with real leather in scratch, tear and abrasion tests.
We have a small selection of the Único product in the colors navy, black and of course olive. We will certainly create a small collection of sandals made from cactus leather in the coming season. We're definitely excited to hear what you think of it and what feedback you have about it.
