Bestseller to test leaf leather in its footwear line

Danish fashion company Bestseller, has announced it will collaborate with UK materials innovator Biophilica, on the development of its material Treekind as part of a series of investments in alternative production techniques.

With the goal of developing a recyclable material that can also be composted once a product reaches the end of its useful life, the British start-up is now working on an alternative footwear using lignocellulose from leaves and a natural binder.

Bestseller menswear brand Jack & Jones will put the novel material to the test to see THE suitability for making more ‘sustainable’ leather alternative shoes.

Camilla Skjønning Jørgensen, the company’s innovation manager, said that while leather processing has a significant impact on the environment, it’s also important to make sure that the alternatives don’t exacerbate existing environmental issues by using excessive plastic or sacrificing durability and quality.

Just seven months ago, Bestseller announced an investment in and partnership with VirtoLabs, which uses animal-derived laboratory cells to cultivate leather.

The money is provided by the organization’s investment arm, Invest FWD, through which it has backed several cutting-edge ventures addressing various facets of production, such as textile recycling or waste-to-fibre technology.