Cork is the New Leather

Vegan leather is all the buzz these days, made of sustainable materials from recycled plastic to pineapple leaves or mushrooms…

The newest trend? CORK - water-repellant, stain-resistant and 100% cruelty-free, it’s the perfect buttery-soft textile to mimic leather, no skins needed from our furry friends. Harvested from sustainable forests through strict regulations, cork trees are the only trees that actually benefit from harvesting. Instead of cutting the tree down, the outer bark is peeled off, and the trees absorb tons of carbon dioxide. It’s a greenhouse gas-reducing powerhouse!

Meet Carry Courage and Yabisí, two Portland-based brands who embrace cork with handmade bags, wallets and more. The heart behind Carry Courage began in 2018 as a creative outlet for owner Marisa Simoes and is now a pioneer of sustainable fashion. Through intentional design, Carry Courage is modeled to allow more control over fair labor practices and utilize unique sustainable materials to create heirloom quality pieces.

The word for “tree” in Taino, the indigenous language of the Caribbean people. Yabisí founder Alessandra Jourdan (pictured below) embodies her Caribbean identity through her designs and zero waste efforts.

“My sustainability journey started in 2015 when I was a fashion design senior in SCAD. I was looking to create both a sustainable and conceptual collection that represented my values and my upbringing. I grew up between the mountains and shores of Puerto Rico and missed the unique connection I had to nature back then.

During my research, I found cork, a unique material with amazing properties that came directly from trees; a tree that actually benefited from being harvested. I created an artistic collection of cork clothing; a collection I still go back to for inspiration when designing my accessories today.”

Making a positive impact on the planet through sustainable choices and scoring a gorgeous new cork tote bag? No brainer. Next time. you’re looking for that perfect accessory, check out these two inspiring brands!