International travel feels like a distant memory, and I look back on the many trips I've taken with the hindsight of privilege + a grateful heart. The environment has thanked humankind for not doing long haul flights, yet I can't deny I miss it. It's through travel that I've connected with businesses + individuals across the globe, to educate, inspire + broaden my mind.
I spent a full day with Adrian + Marte, heading out of Guadalajara at 8am, to drive to the cactus plantation in Zacatecas - a 4 hour drive, through countryside both green + semi arid in parts, not dissimilar to Australia. When we finally arrived, we were met by the charming Francisco, the ranch owner + farmer who tends the land + crops. He grows nopal (Opuntia Cacti), alfalfa + garlic. We named our first cactus leather style after Francisco, as a tribute to this gentleman of the land, who, on a chilly day in Zacatecas, gave up his coat to this wandering Australian who didn't dress appropriately for the occasion.
After seeing the nopal in neat rows, learning about its hardiness + incredible sustainability attributes, walking through rows of alfafa + sampling some home grown garlic, we departed for the long drive 'home'. We stopped at a vegan taqueria called Avocado Punk in Aguascalientes for sustenance + then finally, I was delivered back to Casa Pedro Loza.
I feel so fortunate to have made it to Mexico before the world shut down. The long drive was in good company, with many laughs along the way + I enjoyed being in a more casual situation, where I could learn some of the trials + tribulations of the making of Desserto Pelle. Marte + Adrian are not only business partners, they're best friends + they share the same birthday - which they were celebrating the day after I left. Their commitment to their business, vision + the manufacturing provenance of their home country of Mexico, is incredibly admirable.
We had planned on having cactus leather in our collection in November 2020, but with the various challenges of last year, we made the hard call to wait until the moment was right for us + for Tony's factory.
Please read on to learn some fast facts on cactus leather.
1. No irrigation system is required, just natures' ale with rainfall.
2. Soil is enriched through micro flora + fauna, through native organic cactus.
3. Environmental preservation as no chemicals are used, like herbicides or pesticides.
4. Cactus is left unharmed to enable repeated harvesting from the same plant.
5. Energy saving by drying the feed-stock in a solarium.
6. Full traceability of the farm to ensure sustainable social practices.
We're so thrilled to be using Desserto cactus material in our collections - having launched the Francisco Ox crossbody bag in Series 07, we continue to work to expand the range.
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