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Corn leather is a vegan material made from by-products of corn cultivation, processed to achieve the look and feel of leather. This is the material chosen by Mood Walk for its vegan sneakers, supplied by Coronet, a manufacturer specializing in synthetic and bio-based materials for footwear and leather goods.
How is corn leather made?
Corn leather uses starch extracted from corn as a bio-based component, integrated into the material's structure to replace petrochemical derivatives typically used in classic synthetic leathers. The corn used comes from agricultural residues or non-food crops, which avoids competition with the plant's food uses.
Who is the corn leather manufacturer Coronet?
Coronet is an Italian manufacturer of materials for footwear and leather goods, known for its ranges of synthetic and bio-based leathers used by fashion and sports brands internationally. The company notably develops materials incorporating plant-based components (like corn) to reduce the proportion of petroleum in its products, while maintaining the mechanical properties expected of leather for shoes (resistance to bending, abrasion, colorfastness).
What are the advantages of corn leather?
- Reduction of petrochemical content: the material is bio-based, which reduces dependence on petroleum derivatives compared to a classic PU synthetic leather.
- Valorization of agricultural by-products: the corn used does not compete with the food chain.
- Properties similar to classic leather: flexibility, wear resistance, and durability suitable for daily sneaker use.
- 100% vegan: no animal-derived components, which aligns with Mood Walk's positioning: a brand of vegan sneakers made in Portugal.
Corn leather vs. other vegan leathers: what are the differences?
|
Type of vegan leather |
Raw material |
Manufacturer |
Availability |
Bio-based content |
|
Corn leather (Coronet) |
Corn starch (agricultural waste) |
Coronet (Italy) |
Good |
Majority |
|
Grape leather (Vegea) |
Grape pomace (skins, seeds, stems) from viticulture |
Vegea (Italy) |
More limited |
Minority |
|
Apple leather (AppleSkin) |
Apple residues (skins, cores) |
AppleSkin |
More limited |
Minority |
|
Mushroom leather |
Mycelium or mushroom caps |
Muskin, Mylo |
Limited, small-scale production and high cost |
Majority |
|
Pineapple leather (Piñatex) |
Pineapple leaf fibers |
Ananas Anam |
Good |
Majority (fiber) + coating |
|
Cactus leather (Desserto) |
Nopal cactus pads |
Desserto |
Good |
Majority (fiber) + coating |
Why did Mood Walk choose corn leather for its vegan sneakers?
This choice is part of the brand's vegan approach: to offer a material that is reliable in production, resistant to daily sneaker use, while reducing the proportion of petrochemical derivatives compared to classic synthetic leather. It is also a very aesthetic and comfortable option to wear.
We also selected it for our vegan sneakers because corn leather is manufactured in Italy, and we source all our materials as close as possible to the manufacturing location of our shoes: a workshop in northern Portugal. All our materials are sourced locally in Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is corn leather as durable as animal leather?
It is designed to offer flex and abrasion resistance suitable for daily sneaker use, and its longevity is comparable to classic leather. Our Mood Walk corn leather sneakers are durable even with intensive use.
Is corn leather 100% biodegradable?
No. It contains a proportion of binder necessary for its consistency, which limits its total biodegradability, similar to other bio-based vegan leathers on the market: apple, grape, cactus, mushroom, pineapple. However, its carbon footprint is considerably reduced.
Is corn leather comfortable to wear?
Corn leather is particularly flexible, which is very pleasant when walking for long periods. It is also lightweight, making it very comfortable to wear in summer and when temperatures rise. We tested other types of vegan leather made from apple and grape, and for us, corn leather was the most aesthetically pleasing and comfortable option. Moreover, many customers of our vegan sneakers highlight that they are light and very comfortable to wear.
Does corn leather look like classic leather?
Yes, it's amazing how much corn leather resembles classic leather. At Mood Walk, we also chose corn leather over other types of vegan leather for aesthetic reasons, as it is elegant and at first glance, it's not obvious that it's vegan leather.
Other types of vegan leather have a rougher appearance or visible fibers (like pineapple or mushroom leather), which is not the case with corn leather manufactured by Coronet.
Is there a wide range of colors for vegan leathers, or is it limited?
Again, the available color palette guided our choice towards corn leather. Coronet, our manufacturer of corn leather for our vegan sneakers, offers a wide range of colors, whereas options are much more limited for other materials such as grape or apple leather.
