Cactus leather is also long-lasting and partially biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
Santos by Mónica is a ready-to-wear and accessories brand that focuses on the values of sustainability and responsible business practices. Founded by Puerto Rican designer Mónica Santos Gil, the brand began with handbags made from cactus leather sourced in Mexico, which has the look and feel of traditional leather but uses one-fifth of the water needed to produce animal leather. Cactus leather is also long-lasting and partially biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. The brand’s ready-to-wear is made from blended cotton and Lyocell, a fiber from eucalyptus trees, which are fast-growing and do not need irrigation or pesticides. The brand also focuses on made-to-order and small batch production, which eliminates waste and excessive production. And as a way of giving back, for every item sold, Santos plants a tree with One Tree Planted.