Desserto Cactus Leather Bags, Shoes, Wallets & Accessories

Cactus leather is one of a new generation of plant-based leather alternatives. Naturally, it’s 100% vegan and eco-friendly so it’s being rapidly taken up by designers and brands looking for a greener substitute for animal leather. 

Desserto's cactus leather, one of the latest innovations in sustainable fashion, is a vegan leather made from the leaves of nopal cactus – a plant that grows abundantly in Mexico, without even needing any water In 2019, Mexican innovators Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez debuted the material at Milan's leather fair Lineapelle – after two years of research to elevate the quality of their cactus leather to rival traditional leather. 

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Cactus leather is made from the leaves of the nopal cactus plant, also known as the prickly pear, a plant that grows profusely in Mexico. Cactus leather is a breathable, water-resistant material, and is being widely used not only in fashion but also in furniture and car interiors. 

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Firstly, animal leather is frequently not biodegradable because of the chemicals used in the tanning process, and coatings of plastic added for durability.

Plant-based vegan leathers are partially biodegradable, but they often include small amounts of synthetic materials that aren’t always biodegradable but do make them more durable and water-resistant. Cactus leather supplier Desserto offers a material that is biodegradable under anaerobic thermophilic conditions.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Choosing planet-friendly vegan leather made from cactus is a viable alternative to both animal-derived leather and traditional vegan leathers, which can be made either from highly toxic PVC or slightly less harmful but still problematic polyurethane.

Despite the issues that both these materials present, they are still less harmful to the environment than animal leather, due not only to the toxic chemicals emitted by the leather trade every year, but also to the devastating effects of raising animals on a large scale for human consumption. Desserto's material, which is made from an organic cactus formula, with a backing crafted from recycled polyester and recycled cotton, is kinder to both animals and the environment than animal skins and petroleum-derived plastics.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Clean cactus leather with a soft, dirt-free cloth. For stubborn marks or dirt, use a small amount of detergent with warm water. Avoid using solvents, harsh chemicals or heavy-duty household cleaning products.

Read more in our article How To Clean & Care For Vegan Leather and discover our full vegan leather product care range.

Yes, cactus leather is as good as leather – in fact we think it's much better! Cactus Leather is a premium sustainable vegan leather made from cacti produced by Desserto® that's flexible, hard-wearing, water resistant – and beautiful. It's produced in a large variety of colours, thicknesses and textures, and used by several of our luxury vegan brands here at Immaculate Vegan.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Cactus leather is naturally water resistant, in a way that animal leather isn’t. However, while it's water-resistant, that's not the same as being waterproof, so we advise that you avoid your cactus leather items getting submerged in water or getting truly soaked. If you spill water on your cactus leather item, we advise immediately blotting the area with a soft, damp cloth. Allow your cactus leather item to then dry naturally.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

One of the fantastic things about Cactus Leather is that it is resistant to scratching because the material is designed to be durable and resilient, and can withstand wear and tear very well. However you can also extend its lifespan by taking good care of your Cactus Leather items.

Use a dry cloth to lightly wipe any dust or dirt off your cactus leather item. With soapy water and a cloth, gently clean the material if it needs it. Once dry, apply a small amount of polishing cream using a dry, soft cloth. Rub the cream sparingly over your cactus leather item in a circular motion until it is fully absorbed. Leave to dry naturally, away from direct sunlight. Read more in our article How To Clean & Care For Vegan Leather and discover our full vegan leather product care range.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Cactus leather is considered an ethical material, and certainly it is much more etical than animal leather – because it is a vegan material, which means it does not include any animal skin or animal materials, and no animals are harmed in making cactus leather. It does nor involve any animal slaughter or suffering.

Cactus leather is made using the nopal cactus plant, farmed organically and grown on low-resource degraded soils in mexico. It's also harvested without damaging the plant, and that process allows continuous regrowth, which makes it a very sustainable alternative to animal leather.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?

Use a dry cloth to lightly wipe any dust or dirt off your cactus leather item. With soapy water and a cloth, gently clean the material. Do not submerge your cactus leather item as this this could cause irreversible damage. Let your cactus leather item dry away from direct sunlight, and once dry, apply a
small amount of polishing cream using a dry, soft cloth. Rub the cream sparingly over your cactus leather item in a circular motion until it is fully absorbed. Leave your cactus leather item to dry naturally for 24 hours.

Read more in our article How To Clean & Care For Vegan Leather and discover our full vegan leather product care range.

You can read more about Cactus Leather in our article What is Cactus Leather & Why Do Brands Love It?