METZINGEN – Luxury German apparel brand, Hugo Boss, has launched a new range of shoes made using pineapple leaf fibres. The shoes are made using Piñatex, a natural leather alternative made from cellulose fibres extracted from pineapple leaves. Hugo Boss has launched the shoes as part of a commitment to sustainable innovation across its offering as well as a continuous search for more environmentally benign ways to design, source, produce and finish its products.
Available in four colours, the shoes are presented in a fully recyclable and biodegradable paper box, made from 100 per cent recovered fibre, and will be sold in selected Boss retail stores as well as in the brand’s online store.
Piñatex is a natural-based material manufactured from pineapple leaf fibres. Harvested as a byproduct of existing agriculture, the leaves require no extra resources to grow, providing farming communities with an additional income.
The pineapple industry globally produces 40,000 tonnes of waste pineapple leaves each year, which are usually left to rot or are burned. Approximately 480 leaves – the waste from roughly 16 pineapple plants are needed to create one square metre of material. The material uses the long leaf fibres which are separated by the pineapple farmers for additional income, with the leftover biomass from the process can be used as a fertiliser.
Hugo Boss says it colours the textiles using natural plant-based dyes. “In combination with a recycled TPU sole, the shoe is 100 per cent vegan and designed to make a minimal impact on our planet, while also representing the impeccable design credentials that Boss Menswear is known for,” said a note from the business.
“The overall design of the shoe reflects the sleek, casual approach that is typical of Boss Menswear, and fits in seamlessly with other pieces from the collection.”