‘Going forward, we need to be using more bio-based materials and use more waste in our collections’

Swedish fashion giant H&M is to launch a vegan alternative to leather made from the byproducts of wine.

Debuting on March 26, a number of handbags and pairs of shoes in the Conscious Collection will use the ‘soft vegan leather’ – created by Italian tech company Vegea.

The collection will also feature new dye made from the coffee grounds in H&M’s offices in China, as well as recycled polyester.

‘A holistic approach’

“Going forward, we need to be using more bio-based materials and use more waste in our collections,” Pascal Brun, H&M’s Sustainability Manager told Vogue.

“It isn’t just about materials, though, it’s about how we can design clothes to last longer and to be eventually recycled, and how can we involve our customers to have more sustainable behavior. It’s a holistic approach.”

Conscious Collection

Last year, H&M’s well-known Conscious Collection featured vegan pineapple leather and orange silk.

“For this collection, we explored the beauty in nature, which shows in the prints, as well as the flowy silhouettes, the striking colour palette and the attention to detail,” Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M, said.

“We’re thrilled to introduce new plant-based sustainable materials to create high-performing, beautiful and fashionable pieces that are statement-making yet so easy to wear.”