New Handbag Collection Uses Only Pineapple Leather

Los Angeles-based vegan brand HFS Collective will launch a line of handbags made entirely from pineapple leather this month. The company—which aims to liberate women from baggage by creating comfortable-to-carry bags—is partnering with Spanish materials brand Piñatex to create the collection. HFS—which was founded in 2012 by mother-and-daughter team Rachel and Debra Dennison—chose to work with Piñatex for its innovative approach to animal-free leather and reduced carbon footprint (the company uses pineapple leaves, a byproduct of the pineapple industry) to create its materials that require no additional fertilizers, land usage, or pesticides. “As a sustainable and vegan brand,” the founders told VegNews, “we are always looking for new and innovative, sustainable fabrics to make our bags from. With so many issues concerning leather, we refuse to use it in any form.” Spanish designer Carmen Hijosa debuted Piñatex in 2016 with the mission to replace animal leather in the footwear, furniture, automotive, and fashion industries. In May, fashion brand TAIKKA debuted its own line of pineapple leather handbags available in its stores in Australia, Finland, and England, and online.