These Plant-Based Leathers Will Surprise You—And Elevate Your Home

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Natasha Baradaran walking outside through furnishings covered in Livwell Cactus leather

“My daughters are a driving force in doing what I can to make a better place for them,” says Los Angeles-based designer Natasha Baradaran, who recently launched Livwell Cactus Leather, a soft but sturdy material made from cactuses grown on an organic farm in central Mexico.

“It’s durable like leather but has its own hand,” she explains, noting that it’s especially suited for performance applications. “Instead of having a flat material, we’ve added dimension through embossing and tipping, which is done here in the States.” For the designer, it’s all about creating something luxurious that’s also environmentally friendly. Livwell is nontoxic, energy-conscious (the leaves are dried in the sun), waterwise, biodegradable and cruelty-free.

“My pledge is to be at the forefront of innovation, offering high-quality materials made with sustainable alternatives,” Baradaran says.

PHOTO COURTESY NATASHA BARADARAN