The resulting textile, according to de Boon, isn’t unlike animal leather, with slight variances depending on the type of produce used. “Every centimeter is unique. It is a material with a clear structure and texture, that differs by each type or fruit that is used”, he told AD.nl in July.
Among the prototypes the team created? A durable handbag made of mangoes, a shopping bag derived from nectarines, and a lampshade composed of pulped peaches.
De Boon and company are currently experimenting with different combinations of fruits and vegetables that might boost their so-called “fruitleather’s” strength and durability.
“A strawberry patch leather is quite fragile, tearing if you often fold,” he said. “Adding pumpkin or apple can change that.”
“Fruit might just yield an alternative, animal-friendly upholstery,” de Boon said.
Still, if the project has one underlying message, it’s this: food isn’t trash. “You just need to find a different purpose for [it],” de Boon said.
[Via NL Times]