How designers are specifying plant-based materials.
Journal
Design·Issue 03·February 2026·3 min read

How designers are specifying plant-based materials.

Design teams are increasingly choosing plant-based materials based on performance, aesthetics and sustainability requirements.

Designers influence material adoption more than almost anyone else.

Every specification shapes production decisions. Every material choice influences environmental impact.

Plant-based leather alternatives are rapidly evolving.

Performance. Texture. Durability. Aesthetics.

"The question is no longer whether plant leather works. The question is how creatively it can be used."

Today's designers can access material options that would have seemed impossible only a few years ago.

The question is no longer whether plant leather works. The question is how creatively it can be used.

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