EARTH FRIENDLY LEATHER: Nogami x Yasuhiro Miyanohara ft. &96

A story of how we worked together to turn create earth friendly leather products.

One of Kagoshima’s major exports is Kurobuta (black pig), a heritage pork praised for its rich flavor and tenderness. At Nogami Sangyo, the green farm specializes in producing “stress free” black pigs for consumption. In order to raise the highest quality meat while keeping in line with sustainable development goals, their ethics focus on prioritizing animal health and welfare. The pigs get plenty of leisure time and are fed nutritious meals full of whole foods.

Furthermore, because the goal is to reduce waste while simultaneously honoring the life and sacrifices of the animal, they adhere to the nose-to-tail philosophy. Every part of the animal is utilized, including its pelt.

Local designer Yasuhiro Miyanohara applies an eco-friendly, proprietary dye to the kurobuta pelt to transform it into colourful, soft and pliable leather. Inspired by his experiences as a glass and denim artist, Yasuhiro has created a new line of bags, totes and other goods with the focus on simple aesthetics and functionality.

The leather is first processed with vegetable dye, then reworked into whimsical, thought provoking designs that fit any mood. Since he chooses not to use metal fittings or other distracting elements, he ensures that attention remains purely on the leather itself. The nature of the bags make them practical for everyday use, and since each piece is carefully made by hand, no two will be exactly alike.

As the only distributor of these original handbags, &96 is taking action to reduce the fashion industry’s negative impacts on our environment. We hope to connect the dots between style and sustainability, and are excited to collaborate with individual creators and share with you sustainable, earth friendly and low impact leather bags and other goods.

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