Julie van den Boorn

Department: Man and Mobility
Website: www.julievdboorn.com

Compoleather

Leather has always had a luxurious look, smell and feel. Yet, at a certain point, shoes, jackets and couches are worn out and end up in the incinerator. Seeking a way to prolong the lifecycle of this valuable natural material, Julie van den Boorn developed ‘Compoleather’. Used leather goods are shredded and mixed with hot water. When pressed in moulds and allowed to dry, the pulp gives rise to a new material that sticks together without the need for an extra binding agent. The result is still 100% natural. Multiple applications are possible, including car interiors. And it still has the unmistakable smell of the original.