Tomorrow’s Textiles: Transforming Pinapple Waste
By the time most people meet a pineapple, it’s already been cleaned, carved, cubed, and served, its spiky green crown and fibrous leaves long forgotten. But what if we told you that those discarded, unloved pineapple leaves might just hold the key to a more sustainable future for fashion?
Carmen Hijosa’s Vision for Regenerative Design
Born from the eyes of designer‑researcher Carmen Hijosa, this innovative textile transforms pineapple leaf waste into a pliable, leather‑like fabric that’s reimagining material sourcing. Initially inspired by traditional Filipino piña cloth, Hijosa spent seven years perfecting Piñatex through her PhD at the Royal College of Art and partnerships with universities and mills across Europe
Over 40,000 tonnes of pineapple leaves are typically discarded annually, but with Piñatex, they’re now at the heart of a circular solution. After being decorticated, washed, and dried, the fibers (around 80% pineapple, 20% PLA) are bonded into a non‑woven base and coated with a resin, offering both texture and durability.
Piñatex in the Wild
Piñatex has found its way into market‑ready designs: vegan sandals from Bourgeois Boheme, minimalist bags by Ally Capellino, swimwear from Portuguese brand Nae, and limited‑edition sneakers by ROMBAUT. Puma and Camper have even prototyped footwear and watch straps using the material. These collaborations signal that Piñatex isn’t just a concept, it’s a versatile fabric stepping onto shelves and runways alike.
Consumer reception has been largely positive. Sustainability‑focused shoppers praise its eco‑credentials and novelty, calling it a compelling leather stand‑in. Designers value its adaptability — Piñatex can be cut, stitched, embossed, and dyed in a rainbow of shades . One of its greatest strengths? Its soft, tactile quality, and some consumers prefer its supple feel over traditional leather.
Strengths and Trade-Offs
But the material isn’t without its drawbacks. It lacks the complete durability and water resistance that high‑end leather offers. Its coating contains petroleum‑based resin and PLA, which means it is not fully biodegradable. And while Piñatex's footprint remains significantly lighter than animal leather, its scalability and eco‑claims have been questioned, especially at industrial volumes.
That said, Piñatex shines in certain roles. It's a strong contender for low‑impact accessories: wallets, tote bags, slippers, and light jackets, items that benefit from its soft hand and ethical appeal. In footwear, it’s perfect for casual styles but might not endure the rigors of heavy‑duty use.
Designing Differently
Piñatex stands as a beacon of future‑facing innovation. It delivers sustainability powered by circularity, taps into the heart of vegan and eco‑aware markets, and spans multiple design realms, from accessories to limited apparel collections. But perhaps its greatest value lies not just in what it replaces, but in what it reimagines. Piñatex invites us to rethink fashion’s raw ingredients, not as finite commodities, but as regenerative resources hiding in plain sight. In a world grappling with excess, this fruit-to-fiber transformation offers more than material innovation; it gestures toward a mindset shift, one where design doesn’t just look forward, but gives back. The question now isn’t whether we can wear waste, but whether we’ll choose to design futures that begin where others end.
