Wearing a cactus

A cactus can do a lot more than prick; it can also be your handbag. Worried about the plastic pollution crisis, Mexico-based Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez put on their thinking sombreros and created the first ever cactus-based leather, under their brand Desserto, in 2019. Closer home, Shivani Patel, founder of accessory brand Arture, is giving shape to this novel form of vegan leather for her new collection that comprises utility pouches, money clip wallets and women’s wallets. After working with cork, this is the first time Arture is experimenting with a different vegan fabric. “Cactus leather is more luxurious to touch. It has a leather-like hand feel and it is slimmer compared to cork,” she explains.