“PETA’s Compassionate Business Award celebrates Desserto leather for challenging the false idea that cows are commodities.”

Vegan leather company Adriano Di Marti has won PETA’s award for ‘promoting kindness to animals and a sustainable planet’ with the development of its cactus leather.

Mexican entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, aka the duo behind Desserto- a sustainable vegan leather made from cactus plants, have won the Compassionate Business Award from PETA.

According to PETA, the biomaterial company, which recently announced its partnership with H&M, deserves the award as it has stepped up ‘to meet the rapidly growing demand for ethical and animal- and eco-friendly vegan leather’.

Desserto was developed in 2019 and has already won multiple awards such as the 2020 Green Product Award and the LVMH Innovation Award 2020.

‘The fashion world has grown’

“With vegan leather—made with everything from fruits and fungi to kombucha and cactus—trailblazers like Adriano Di Marti show just how much the fashion world has grown, literally,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in an online statement.

 “PETA’s Compassionate Business Award celebrates Desserto leather for challenging the false idea that cows are commodities.”

Science Story Collection

H&M is all set to feature Desserto in a new sustainability collection called Science Story, launching on 18^th March.

The Science Story line is part of the Swedish giant’s Innovation Stories collections that focus on exploring ‘innovation, sustainable fabrications, and design’.

The debut collection will feature modern and contemporary garments including wide-leg bright white jeans with removable double waistband, a lightly-cropped chalk-white shirt with oversized breast-pocket, as well as a cuffed tracksuit.

Accessories such as recycled plastic blue sunglasses with a double-lens frame as well as a ‘chunky necklace with orange swirls and rhinestone detailing, coordinating statement loop rhinestone earrings, and high-heeled green strap sandals’ are also included in this collection.

Ella Soccorsi, a concept designer at H&M said: “Science Story is a homage to the years of research and experiments behind these incredible materials.”

Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M, added: “Our new concept continues H&M’s journey towards a sustainable and circular fashion system.

“Innovation Stories allows us to develop and grow, all while creating desirable and long-lasting pieces that we hope our customers will love and be proud of.”

• Read: Hermès to launch its first mushroom leather-based handbag

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