Shoe brand Clae creates the first cactus leather vegan sneakers

The winner of the 2020 Green Product Award DESSERTO has teamed up with footwear brand Clae to create the first vegan leather sneakers made from cactus.

Yes, you read that correctly! Created in Mexico, the groundbreaking cactus leather is a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative to traditional cowhide. The cacti are farmed without any chemicals, meaning the local biodiversity is preserved and the product is 100% organic.

The cacti plants are harvested every six to eight months, giving the plant time to regenerate itself which enables the process to be sustainable. Mature leaves are cut from the plant and dried under the sun for a few days before being transformed into vegan leather.

Clae is known for its commitment to conscious and sustainable fashion, and with this new launch, they are changing the face of fashion.

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Bradley Cactus

The new range of sneakers, entitled ‘Bradley Cactus’, comes in three distinctive colours: white, green and black, inspired by the cactus itself.

While the upper shoe is made from their iconic new cactus leather, the 100% natural rubber sole is made from sap collected from the Hevea tree. Plantations of Hevea contribute to maintaining the global balance of carbon in the atmosphere, so the creation of the sneakers has a positive environmental impact.

Moreover, the laces are made from recycled nylon collected from plastic waste – reducing the amount of plastic going to landfill.

Vegan alternatives on the rise

Using animals for fashion is no longer the sign of luxury it once was, now seen simply as a symbol of cruelty. Even iconic fashion magazine British Vogue has called for an end to fur in the fashion industry.

Instead, brands are innovating new ways of creating animal skin from plant-based materials. One example is vegan mushroom leather, which plant-based actress Natalie Portman recently invested in.

These sustainable and animal-free materials are the future of fashion, and we can’t wait to see what the industry looks like 5-10 years from now.

You can pre-order the new cactus leather sneakers at an exclusive price of £109 instead of £115 on the Clae website.

Got an old pair of leather shoes or a jacket that you don’t know if you can wear now you’re vegan? Find out here if it’s ok for vegans to wear second-hand leather.