Material Selection

When determining what material to use for the development of our bags, it came down to two things, quality and durability, which is why we use full grain leather. We believe a bag must have more substance than purely fashion. Real leather is a natural and unique material that ages beautifully with proper care and can last for decades, withstanding much more day-to-day use than many of the vegan leather alternatives in the market.

The vast majority of vegan leather bags are made from petroleum-based materials such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PU (polyurethane) and textile-polymer composite microfibers, which are non-biodegradable and not as durable as real leather.

Our sourcing

In launching Pamoja, we ultimately decided to source materials from a tannery that in close proximity to our manufacturer in Ubrique, Spain to reduce co emission impact in transporting materials during the production process. Realistically, this is a practice we intend to continue unless materials are unique to a specific region of the world.

Our progress

Pamoja is a young company, selling our first bag back in August 2020! There is so much to learn when it comes to sustainability, and we will continue to evolve as we grow. We’re learning about more sustainable vegan leather options that have come to the market such as  mylo (made of mushrooms), pinatex (made of pineapples), and desserto (made of cactus). We’re assessing the durability and longevity of these alternatives as we look to grow our assortment.

If it aligns with our brand ethos of creating timeless and seasonless pieces that will forever remain part of your wardrobe, it is definitely worth exploring. We’re all ears and just an email away at hello@pamojabags.com.