Increasingly, sustainable alternatives to leather are sought to reduce the environmental impact generated by a large amount of toxic chemicals and the liters of water required to produce a pair of cowhide shoes
Among these vegan alternatives, Cristina Sabadell, CEO and founder of Vegtus Trainers has been clear from the start. She explains how they have managed to minimize the environmental impact through the brand and about her ambition to create 100% sustainable footwear using cactus leather.
Cristina Sabadell, founder of Vegtus
Horse: What does it mean to be a 100% sustainable brand?
Cristina Sabadell: Vegan leathers like cactus leather are organic, free of toxins, and do not require irrigation systems, herbicides, or pesticides for cultivation.
We constantly strive to improve all processes from production to logistics and packaging with the aim of advancing and minimizing ecological degradation caused by resource overexploitation, the emission of polluting gases, and waste generation.
Vegtus adopts a 100% sustainable attitude because attitude is the way you approach your actions; ‘dress as you think’ sums up our vision for the project, whose goal is to minimize environmental impact through the use of bio-based materials such as cactus leather or corn leather, resulting in a saving of 8000 liters of water compared to cowhide sneakers.
– Cristina Sabadell
Horse: Where did the idea of creating a sustainable, cruelty-free, and vegan brand come from?
Cristina Sabadell: Vegtus was born in Barcelona during the lockdown, a moment when I (CEO Cristina Sabadell) became aware of the responsibility we have to the planet. The fashion industry causes 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, so I thought I should work on a brand whose mission was to be a reference in the fashion sector from a sustainable perspective. The idea materialized in essential modern footwear: sneakers + innovative and eco-responsible material, Nopal cactus pulp, and corn fiber.
Horse: Why do you use cactus leather as a raw material?
Cristina Sabadell: Cactus leather is a bio-based material, cruelty-free, free of toxic chemicals, biodegradable, and with extraordinary properties: soft touch, elastic, breathable, and easy to clean. The production of this material is surprisingly simple and natural.
The process begins with pruning the mature leaves of the Nopal cactus, chopping them, and letting them dry in the sun for 3 days until they reach the appropriate moisture level. Then, they are crushed to obtain the cactus fiber, and they are ready to be processed and create the organic leather sheets. Once in the workshop, they are cut, sewn, and assembled according to different designs. In terms of the environment, the Nopal is a CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plant. Its ecological success is mainly attributed to its peculiar daily pattern of carbon fixation and water loss, which primarily occurs at night. The cactus has a great capacity for CO2 absorption and does not require irrigation for its growth.
Vegtus Spring/Summer 2023 sneaker collection.
Horse: Do you plan to add more accessories to the collections?
Cristina Sabadell: We have many proposals, and we are studying some of them; the market is wise and will guide us.
Horse: What are the brand’s future plans?
Cristina Sabadell: To grow organically into a prestigious global brand in the field of sustainable fashion.
Landscape with cactus
In addition to being an excellent option for reducing environmental impact, this leather has a great finish and allows for various creations. Brands like Fossil, H&M, and Karl Lagerfeld have already incorporated vegetable leather into their collections.
Diversity, color, and urban life inspire the Vegtus sneaker collection for Spring/Summer 2023, where the brand bets on trends and maximum comfort, using recycled materials, plant-based skins, and being cruelty-free.
Tanami, Vegtus’ new sandal collection.
The Spanish brand has added to its products its new sandal collection, Tanami, where it combines vintage style with modern technology, creating perfect sandals for a unique and sophisticated look. This collection has a retro-futuristic inspiration reflected in every aspect, from the choice of colors (lilac, yellow, sky, orange, and green) to geometric designs and futuristic shapes.
Join us in contributing to the environment with increasingly sustainable options. Both sneakers and sandals are available on the Vegtus website and in selected stores in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, and Turkey.
Images provided by Vegtus.
