Ganni’s Slouchy Boots Get Alternative Upgrade With Lenzing, Recyc Leather

Alexandra Harrell
·3 min read

Ganni is giving another one of its signature products an eco-conscious upgrade.

Lenzing and Recyc Leather have teamed to debut Pélinova, a hybrid alternative combining Tencel lyocell fibers and recycled leather fibers for high-end fashion applications. Starting early this year, Ganni will bring the next-generation material to market as a substitute for genuine leather, showcasing the alternative in the Danish brand’s iconic Slouchy Boots.

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Slouchy Boots by GANNI (Recyc Leather’s Pélinova x Tencel fibers).
Slouchy Boots by GANNI (Recyc Leather’s Pélinova x Tencel fibers).

The Hong Kong-based leather recyclers’ process gives leather waste new value through recycling. The original material comes from gardening gloves, and Recyc’s recycling system then transforms them into higher-value products.

The Pélinova material is created through a “unique and transparent” process that collects pre-consumer, recycled leather fibers that are then hydro-jetted into the Tencel lyocell fibers. The combined efforts of Lenzing and Recyc results in a supple and sturdy material with a low environmental footprint; the process utilizes 70 percent less water than traditional methods and cuts carbon emissions.

The Pelinova material’s stages.
The Pelinova material’s stages.

“Since our establishment in 2017, we have recycled 100 tons of leather from landfill, earning recognition from European authorities and positive responses from brands,” said Olivier Grammont, Co-founder of Recyc Leather. “Our partnership with Lenzing and Ganni demonstrates Pélinova’s potential as a truly sustainable alternative to traditional leather, inspiring us to continue to broaden the application of Pélinova in shaping the future of the leather industry.”

Florian Heubrandner, Lenzing’s executive vice president of global textiles business, said the “pioneering” partnership is a “catalyst” to “unlocking the power of planet-conscious fabric innovation.” With the use of responsibly sourced Tencel Lycocell fibers in Pélinova, Lenzing is not only creating a “unique alternative” for leather applications in footwear, he continued, but also demonstrating the versatility of fiber applications.

And that’s deeply in line with Ganni’s goals.

The B Corp is committed to minimizing social and environmental impact within its operations, with a goal of reaching 50 percent absolute carbon reduction by 2027. Material innovation is one of the critical pillars in reaching this target; by the end of last year, the brand successfully phased out all virgin leather from upcoming collections, making 2024 the first year the Levi’s collaborator didn’t produce any virgin leather across its ready-to-wear and accessories collections.

Slouchy Boots by GANNI (Recyc Leather’s Pélinova_TENCEL fibers)
Slouchy Boots by GANNI (Recyc Leather’s Pélinova_TENCEL fibers)

“However, the work doesn’t stop here,” Lauren Bartley, chief sustainability officer at Ganni, said. “Collaborating and experimenting with partners like Tencel and Recyc Leather on new fabric innovations to develop alternatives to materials as we know them today is crucial to reaching ambitious carbon reduction goals like Ganni’s.”

Pélinova’s use won’t stop at footwear for the brand, either. Ganni said it sees the case for the application of the leather alternative in the accessories sector, too, and the trio has developments coming to get “even closer” to being able to scale the use of Pélinova, which will be showcased at Première Vision Paris next week.