In recent years, more and more companies are engaging in the research and production of alternative and non-polluting fabrics. Already in 2016 the DueDiLatte had started marketing milk-based tissue products. On April 6, however, a small Milanese startup won a competition notice on the search for new plant-based materials: Vegea Ltd. And he won it thanks to the wine leather, a leather made entirely with waste from ... wine!
Wineleather winner of the Global Change Award
Global Change Award, this is the name of the prize offered by the colossus H&M. An award to entice companies to search for non-polluting fabrics that exploit the so-called refuse. To win it, after an online vote that involved the public from all over the world, 5 projects. Among these stands out that of the Wineleather who won, in addition to the glory, the sum of 300.000 euros. A considerable amount that will greatly help the small Milanese startup. But what is Wineleather? It is a leather produced with a special treatment of the fibers and oils of the marc. Peels, stalks, seeds and other waste items are simply transformed into bags, shoes or elegant coats. This way you hope to take advantage of all of those leftovers originated during the wine production process. And in Italy, for obvious reasons, these leftovers are so many.
From Milan the startup that wants to revolutionize the world of fashion
Behind Wineleather there is Vegea srl, a small Milanese startup born in 2016. Vegea's founder is Giampiero Tessitore, a 37-year-old architect, who started this company with one goal: to produce new textile materials following the principles of sustainability. And to help him in this venture, the partner and chemist Francis Merlin.
Right from the start, the two started looking for that useful idea for their purpose. This is how Wineleather was born. But is it really so green and innovative? According to its creators, yes. This is because Wineleather is not a synthetic leather or faux leather. In fact, this fabric does not require the use of any polluting chemical substance, unlike other plant-based leathers. Plus a square meter of Wineleather it is made with 0 liters of water. For one square meter of animal skin, on the other hand, a good 240 liters are required. A nice saving, especially for our land.
