Indies need government support to bounce back drapersonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from drapersonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
London-based entrepreneur who created leather alternative from pineapple leaves nominated for top award Naomi Ackerman
A London-based sustainable fashion entrepreneur who created a leather alternative from pineapple leaves has been shortlisted for the prestigious European Inventor Award.
Former World Bank adviser and textile industry expert, Carmen Hijosa, invented her trademarked Piñatex fabric in a bid to find a durable, environmentally-friendly, attractive-looking and soft alternative to leather.
Pineapple leaves are usually a waste product of fruit harvests, but the designer devised a process to create fabric from their dried-out cellulose fibres, which she combined with corn-based polylactic acid and transformed into a non-woven mesh textile.
Drapers Independents Awards 2021 open for entries
Drapers has been recognising excellence in independent retailing for 30 years, but in 2021, highlighting the achievements of this sector has never been more important.
Indie retailers and the brands they stock have had a very difficult 12 months and there are more challenges ahead. However, indies are resilient and innovative, and we want to shine a spotlight on what has been achieved during this time of adversity.
Businesses have adapted at speed by diverting their attention online, developing social media platforms into a vital sales channel and doubling down on exceptional customer service.
Independent retailers and brands have also gone above and beyond to help their local communities, whether it be though fundraising efforts, helping customers shop safely or simply being a friendly face in turbulent times.