Stylish vegan leather from grape residues
GrapeSkin: from grape residue to stylish vegan leather
What if by-products from the wine industry did not end up as waste, but were given a second life as a high-quality, stylish and animal-friendly material? With GrapeSkin, the Italian company Vegea shows how circularity, design and material innovation can come together in a convincing alternative to traditional leather. This alternative is no longer limited to research or concept development: brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Stella McCartney and Bentley demonstrate that GrapeSkin is already finding its way into handbags, shoes and luxury automotive interiors.
GrapeSkin is developed from grape by-products, such as skins, seeds and stalks left over from the winemaking process. Vegea processes these plant-based raw materials into a versatile biomaterial with applications in fashion, accessories, interiors, automotive and packaging. In this way, a familiar agricultural by-product is transformed into a new source for sustainable product development: from an elegant Tommy Hilfiger handbag and Stella McCartney shoes to the sustainable interiors of the Bentley EXP 100 GT.
The strength of GrapeSkin lies in its rare combination of appearance, functionality, scalability and circularity. The material offers the look and feel of leather, while telling a new story: valuable resources are recovered from an existing value chain and transformed into products with emotional, visual and commercial appeal. For designers and brands, GrapeSkin creates room to make sustainable choices tangible, without compromising on experience, quality or aesthetics.
Vegea was founded in 2016 and is based in Italy, where it develops biobased materials from agricultural by-products. In 2026, the company celebrated its tenth anniversary and expanded the production capacity of GrapeSkin, enabling higher volumes, improved availability and shorter delivery times. This makes GrapeSkin not only an inspiring example of circular innovation, but also a material that is increasingly aligned with practical industrial application.
GrapeSkin is therefore more than an interesting material example. It connects agriculture, chemistry, design, manufacturing and international brands in one circular value chain. The applications by Tommy Hilfiger, Stella McCartney and Bentley show that by-products from the agrofood sector can be upgraded into high-quality end products with market potential. In doing so, GrapeSkin inspires companies, designers and chain partners to look at residual streams differently: not as waste, but as the starting point for new value.
The shoes developed by Stella McCartney in collaboration with VEGEA clearly demonstrate how GrapeSkin can evolve from an innovative raw material into an appealing luxury end product. In these designs, a grape-based vegan alternative to animal leather is used in contemporary shoes and sandals that reflect Stella McCartney’s distinctive and expressive design language. The material combines a high-quality leather-like appearance with a circular story: by-products from the wine industry are upgraded into a stylish fashion product with international appeal. These shoes therefore provide a strong example of how biobased material innovation, design quality and market-oriented application can reinforce one another. They show that sustainable material choices do not have to remain limited to concepts or prototypes, but can result in products that fit within the highest segment of the fashion industry.
The handbag created by Tommy Hilfiger with VEGEA demonstrates how GrapeSkin can also develop into an attractive and recognizable fashion accessory. VEGEA presents this application as “sustainable fancy bags made with art”: elegant bags in which a grape-based biomaterial is combined with a contemporary, commercial look. The bag shows how by-products from the wine industry can be upgraded into a stylish accessory that fits the international appeal of a brand such as Tommy Hilfiger. The material offers the look and feel of leather, while telling a circular story at the same time: grape skins, seeds and stalks are given a second life as a high-quality raw material for fashion. This makes the handbag a powerful example of how biobased innovation can be not only technically relevant, but also emotionally and visually compelling for consumers.
BENTLEY CHOOSES VEGEA FOR THE INTERIORS OF THE NEW EXP 100 GT Bentley celebrates its centenary introducing the future of sustainable luxury mobility. Vegea is the sustainable material used for the car’s seats and was inspired by the company’s deep understanding of the desires of its intelligent, forward-thinking customers who are keen to see a more environmentally aware car industry. Adrian Hallmark, Bentley Chairman and CEO, said: “Today, on our Centenary, we demonstrate our vision of the future of our Marque, with the Bentley EXP 100 GT – a modern and definitive Grand Tourer designed to demonstrate that the future of luxury mobility is as inspirational and aspirational as the last 100 years.” Francesco Merlino, Vegea Owner said: “We are deeply honoured Bentley has chosen Vegea to create this extraordinary product. The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a beautiful, immersive and sustainable experience”.
This non-commercial platform exists to inspire, connect and stimulate biobased circular initiatives in, with and outside horticulture. Our goal is to achieve the most valuable use of plant (residual) flows. See what is already there, find inspiration, connect with experts, publish your own initiative(s) and attract potential business partners.