The innovative plant-based textile is the brain child of Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a leathergoods expert who was shocked to learn about the environmental impact of mass leather production and chemical tanning. She was compelled to consider a sustainable alternative that could be commercially produced, as well as offer a positive social and economic impact with a low environmental footprint.
Inspired by natural fibers used in traditional Filipino wovens such as Barong Tagalog garments, Dr. Hijosa began her research during which the pineapple leaf fibers — which are fine, but also offer strength and flexibility — struck Dr. Hijosa as a commercially viable starting material for a fabric. Over a seven year period, Hijosa developed Piñatex, which is available through London-based Ananas Anam Ltd.
The pineapple leaves go through seven steps on their way to becoming Piñatex — harvesting, decorticating, washing, drying, degumming, nonwoven formation and finishing. Decortication involves extracting the long fibers from the leaves. Biomass generated during the process may be used as a natural fertilizer or biofuel, so nothing is wasted. After the gum is removed from the fibers, they are made into a nonwoven mesh, which is finished in Spain. The specialized finishing process gives the nonwoven material a unique character and leather-like appearance.
Manufacturing partnerships are growing as demand for Piñatex increases, and Ananas Anam has built a supply chain of partners that make a contribution to the fabric:
Philippines-based Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative is a farming partnership that harvests and decorticates the waste leaves;
Asia Textile Mills Inc., Philippines, undertakes the degumming of natural fibers;
Philippines-based Nonwoven Fabric Phils. Inc. is a specialist in creating the nonwoven mesh that forms the base of the fabric; and
Bonditex SL and Acabados Gonzalez SL, both based in Spain, finish the mesh.
According to Ananas Anam, Piñatex is soft, lightweight, durable, flexible and breathable. The nonwoven has applications in a multitude of products from apparel, accessories and footwear to furniture and automotive upholstery.
Designers and brands are showing interest. Recently, Hugo Boss introduced a line of men’s footwear that incorporates Piñatex in the shoe upper.
The Hugo Boss shoes are 100-percent vegan featuring the Piñatex nonwoven dyed using natural plant-based dyes, and a recycled thermoplastic polyurethane sole.
