From pineapple leather to mushroom-based fabrics, tech is rewriting the rules of food, fashion, and sustainability.
While vegetarianism and veganism are emotionally charged words in some quarters, it cannot be ignored that the world’s reliance on beef and cow-derived products plays a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions and climate impact. In fact, according to a report by American broadcaster PBS, cows are responsible for 40% of the environmentally harmful methane gas produced globally.
With this in mind, efforts to explore alternatives to traditional cattle-based products are gaining traction as environmental concerns drive innovation — not just in agriculture, but also in what ends up on our plates, and perhaps more unexpectedly, in our closets too.
When it comes to food, most of us have seen, if not actually tried, plant-based burgers or nut-milk gelato. While early iterations may have drawn reactions ranging from polite nods to full-on grimaces of horror, there’s no denying that plant-based burgers and ice creams are here to stay. But advancements in technology are not only shifting the ethics of how we eat, they’re also enabling a transformation of our food into fashion.
Although leather for belts, bags, hats, and jackets can be sourced from a variety of animals (yes Australia, I’m looking at your kangaroos), it is still predominantly derived from cows. 270 million of them in 2024, to be approximate. In response to this, enter Piñatex®, a leather alternative produced by London-based Ananas Anam using fibres from pineapple leaves, largely sourced from farms in the Philippines, and with customers that include Hugo Boss and H&M.
And Piñatex® are not the only ones innovating. Indonesian biotech company MYCL is also leading the charge at the intersection of technology, food, and fashion by producing Mylea, a next-generation leather made from food waste and mushrooms. Founded in 2015, the Bandung-based company is committed to sustainability and circular economy principles, actively working to reduce the environmental footprint of traditional supply-and-demand systems.
Through patented processes, companies like these are turning organic waste into durable, fashion-grade textiles offering not only peace of mind for the planet, but also a more stylish way for us to live on it.
