Recover

The leather industry faces huge ecological challenges. To slow down industrial production, which consumes vast quantities of water and areas of pasture land, and to create zero waste, Juliana Vérastègue Bayle makes use of leather leftovers from craftsmen. After soaking split leather waste in a mixture of water and animal collagen, she made the scraps stick together and become rigid. The resulting dense material is easy to model and sculpt, making it ideal for repairing furniture. Using leather to mend broken objects highlights recycling and conveys a sensitive message about consumption, the value of craftwork and circularity.