Desert Skin
This material development uses Desserto’s red cactus leather to examine sustainable possibilities within the evolving vegan leather industry. The project focuses on understanding how vegan leather is currently applied in fashion and product design while critically evaluating its performance, durability, and limitations. Through hands-on experimentation with laser etching, laser cutting, UV printing, and print development, the material is tested for both technical capabilities and aesthetic potential. Surface design plays a significant role, with prints derived from natural textures such as armadillo skin rubbings and rock surfaces, translating organic patterns into a refined, designed language. By combining advanced fabrication techniques with nature-based inspiration, the work questions how alternative leathers can move beyond imitation and develop their own identity. This exploration positions cactus leather as a practical material for innovative, sustainable design while acknowledging the challenges that remain in its adoption and long-term use
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Cactus Leather 1
This initial investigation reinterprets animal skin through physical manipulationand sewing, followed by scanning the altered surface to capture a new printed using UV flatbed printing. The resulting material print serves as an exploratory study for accessories, examining how traditional skin references can be transformed through process, texture, and translation into surface design.
Cactus Leather 2
This laser-etched material investigation translates rubbings from an armadillo skin into a scanned and etched print. The laser removes the surface layer of the cactus leather, creating a suede-like texture that contrasts with the smooth base material and highlights how etching can introduce both tactile and visual depth
Cactus Leather 3
Cactus Leather 4
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