Cork - Vegan or cork leather for bags and accessories

Cork is a natural and ecological material, with an ancient tradition and manufacturing process. Cork is obtained from the bark of the cork oak, a tree that lives from 150 to 200 years, which is harvested by hand up to 16 times during the life of these plants but only for 4 months a year, from May to August. Precisely because the tree does not even have to be cut down, cork is a renewable and sustainable resource.

In addition, by harvesting the bark, a cork oak produces up to 4 times more cork and thus binds climate-damaging carbon dioxide even more strongly. In this way, Mediterranean cork oak forests filter almost 15 million tons of harmful substances from the air every year.

To make cork fabric, the one used for bags and accessories, only the middle layer of the bark or the finest part is used because it is of the highest quality. The remaining layers of the bark are used to produce corks, floor coverings, soles, objects or used in construction. Cork has in fact breathable, insulating, antibacterial properties.

The cork layer is then bonded with natural adhesive to form large panels. Finally, these panels are cut very thin with sharp knives and applied to a backing material. This elaborate process produces a robust and water-repellent material, also known as cork leather or vegan leather. Each piece is unique and special due to its natural texture.

The cork leather thus obtained is an ecological and natural material that can be used as a sustainable alternative to leather, free from formaldehyde and other substances harmful to health with a thousand properties:

recyclable, waterproof, elastic and flame retardant more sustainable for the environment than the production of synthetic materials, lightweight, practical, washable, resistant and dirt repellent, 100% vegan.

Portugal has the largest cork oak forests in Europe, the so-called Montados. There, the ancient forests form one of the most important ecosystems in the world. The cork forests offer protection to up to 200 different animal species and countless plant species and are therefore the perfect sustenance for endangered animal species such as the Iberian lynx or the imperial eagle.

Sardinia is also obviously known for its long tradition linked to the processing of cork.