In an increasingly environmentally concerned world, we are constantly seeking for alternatives to traditional leather.One woman believes 'fish leather' may be the answer, but everyone asks her the same question.?
Isabelle, a fashion designer, demonstrates how she creates the material in a TikTok video posted by @fishtokisab.
After donning safety overalls and glasses, she removes fish skin cuts from a freezer and rinses them in cold water.She then scrapes off all of the meat, fat, and membrane with a blunt knife.?
After a quick break from the fishy business to get a bite (because obviously), Isabelle returns to the office and soaks the skins in soapy water.This is the preparatory stage of producing fish leather.The fish skins are then tanned and dried to make them robust and wear-resistant.
Once tanned, it behaves similarly to tanned cowhide and is claimed to be 10 times stronger than calf leather due to its natural cross-fibre structure.While not commonly used, fish leather is an excellent alternative to typical cowhide.?
It is a byproduct of the seafood business, which means that no more energy is required to produce the substance.Fish leather is also environmentally benign because none of the items used involve endangered animals, and it does not produce the carbon footprint associated with cattle farming.?
However, there is a potentially smelly elephant (or fish) in the room, and it is a question that has inundated the comment area of Isabelle's video.?
Does fish leather smell? Nobody wants to smell like a fish and chip shop when they put on their new sneakers.
One person noted, "I can smell it from here," and another said, "Can I ask about the smell?"As it turns out, the tanning process eliminates the fishy odor, leaving the material smelling like any other leather.?
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