Velarde and Cázarez previously worked in the automotive, furniture, and fashion industries and saw firsthand how much of a problem environmental pollution was. In response, the two of them went into business together to develop this leather alternative that works for shoes, gloves, handbags, and car interiors and seats. They’ve created two kinds of material: Desserto, for consumer products and apparel, and Deserttex, which can be used for industrial purposes anywhere in place of leather. Deserttex is soft, springy and handles well, much like regular leather. 

The cactus they use is quite sustainable. It’s hardy enough to withstand winter cold and does not need to be watered or fertilized. It grows amidst the native flora and fauna of the area, and they did not need to cut down any trees to set up a prickly pear farm. They harvest the mature leaves without damaging the plants, so there is a new harvest every 6-8 months. The leaves are soft and have only very small stickers and so are easier to harvest. And they dry the leaves with renewable energy, leaving them out for three days under the sun. 

Faux-leather products already exist, but those are made of plastic, which is not biodegradable, also involves toxic chemicals, and doesn’t ‘breathe’ against your skin the way cowhide leather, or Desserto, does. 

Some people wonder why leather production poses environmental problems, because the industry simply makes use of the skins of cows already being killed for meat. But the tanning process involves toxic chemicals such as chromium that can become toxic runoff. Desserto’s leather does not require any toxic chemicals for its production.