Ganni is phasing out virgin leather after discovering that the fabric is its single biggest polluter - despite making up less than a tenth of its products
Ganni is launching a vegan leather handbag made from orange and cacti waste from the food and beauty industries as part of its plans to reduce emissions.
The Scandi fashion brand earlier announced plans to phase out virgin leather by 2023, after discovering that the material was its biggest polluter – despite making up less than a tenth of its output.
In a bid to achieve this ambitious target, over the last two years it has been using vegan alternatives, including leather made from mushrooms, grape waste, and mycelium.
Now it has added Ohoskin, a plant-based alternative made from 52 per cent recycled plastic and 48 per cent orange and cacti waste from the food and beauty industries.
The material, which has a lower impact than animal skin, has been used to craft the Bou bag, described as the brand’s hero product.
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‘What Ganni is all about’
In a statement about the new product, Ditte Reffstrup, creative director at Ganni, said: “This bag is really what Ganni is all about.
“We really wanted to design something that speaks to a modern luxury mindset. We wanted to create a really unique design that still carries the Ganni DNA, something that feels easy, playful, but still sophisticated. A bag made to follow you everywhere.
“I’m also so proud to be launching this silhouette in a new innovative fabric that brings us one step closer to becoming free from virgin leather by 2023.
“It’s such an exciting moment for us and I can’t wait to see people make it part of their everyday life.”
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‘No difference’
Meanwhile, speaking to Vogue, Ditte Reffstrup said people ‘still feel that leather is luxury’ – and that Ohoskin has ‘a luxury leather feeling’.
Ganni founder Nicolaj Reffstrup added: “For us, it’s just a matter of bringing down our carbon footprint… You just need to look at the means you have to achieve that target, and phasing out leather is an obvious one.”
He added that using Ohoskin to make a hero product will encourage consumers to get on board with leather alternatives.
According to the founder: “It’s partly educational – trying to teach the customer that there’s no difference [between the leather and non-leather pieces] and seeing how they react.”
Featured images credit” Ganni via Facebook
Are you thinking of ditching animal skin but feeling unsure about buying used products? Check out our debate on is it OK for vegans to wear second-hand leather?
