The Search For Sustainable & Vegan Leather Alternatives: Apple Leather

Welcome back to The Carbon Closet’s vegan leather series. We’ve had an incredible - and almost edible - array of materials paving the way for a conscious fashion future. At The Carbon Closet, we believe that style should never cost the earth. That’s why we invite you to explore the incredible range of innovative, sustainable fashion- including our growing range of vegan leathers.
Last week, we dove into olive leather, today we’re taking a sweeter turn with apple leather.
Join us as we digest the delicious details behind this tasty textile.

Apple leather is created using waste from the food industry — including apple skins, pulp, and cores left over from juice and compote production. These by-products are dried and ground into a fine powder, then mixed with a binding agent and spread onto a fabric backing.

After that, it’s finished through heating and coating processes to add durability, flexibility, and water resistance. The result? A supple, sustainable fabric that looks and feels like leather — without the environmental cost

By now, many of our readers can probably identify the recurring themes in our vegan leather series — innovation, sustainability, and smart use of waste. But in case you need a refresher, here are apple leather’s standout features:

By transforming food industry waste into fabric, apple leather makes full use of every part of the fruit — reducing food waste and maximizing sustainability.

This material doesn’t just sound good — it feels good too. Apple leather is lightweight, breathable, flexible, UV-resistant, water-repellent, and even hypoallergenic.

Apples can be sourced locally in many regions (you might even have a tree in your own back garden!). This local availability helps minimize transportation emissions and lowers the overall carbon footprint compared to animal leather.

Like any new innovation, apple leather isn’t perfect yet. These challenges are part of its current production process — but with time and technology, we’re confident it will become even greener!

As with many vegan leathers, apple leather typically requires a polymer binder to create strength and texture. Unfortunately, this can reduce its overall biodegradability and sustainability.

Apple leather can be more prone to cracking or peeling than traditional leather. It’s still evolving and currently among the less durable vegan alternatives we’ve tested.

Apple leather is one of the newer consumables to make the cut in vegan leathers, so less is known about its properties, use, and long-term development.

From tree to textile, apple leather is a deliciously clever alternative to animal leather. One of the leading producers, Frumat & Mabel Industries, makes a variety known as AppleSkin — a PETA-approved, eco-conscious innovation that’s turning heads (and turning waste into wonder).

At The Carbon Closet, we’re proud to champion sustainable fashion and showcase materials like apple leather in our collections. And if apples aren’t quite to your taste, discover thousands of other eco-friendly styles that suit your unique look. Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to stay inspired on your sustainable style journey.