WHY WE CHOOSE CORK?
We want to inspire people to make conscious choices that build a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. We want to create awareness about the benefits of cork as a material for our everyday essentials.
Our plant leather collection is made using the finest fabric from cork, harvested respecting the natural cycle of the cork oak trees. Cork is a vegan, renewable and sustainable material. It is durable, light-weight, water and dirt repellent and ages with grace. It is as flexible as leather and versatile as textile.
The lining in our cork leather consists of 65% polyester (PES) and 35% cotton. Polyester makes the products more durable. We are constantly working with our partners to find even more sustainable solutions, such as increasing the use of recycled polyester and organic cotton. Our cork fabric is PETA approved VEGAN, CRUELTY-FREE, material. Only water-based glue and vegetable dye in black cork products are used in manufacturing of the cork fabric to minimize the presence of harmful chemicals.
We value proper sources of information — all the statements are validated, and based on research results.
Read more from Audubon article by Susan McGrath (contributor also to Smithsonian, and
National Geographic). www.fao.org/forestry.
Read more from WWF article. wwfeu.awassets.panda.org
HARVESTING CORK
Our plant leather collection is made using the finest fabric from cork, harvested from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) -certified cork forests in Portugal, respecting the natural cycle of the cork oak trees.
A cork tree is harvested, not cut down. The cork oak tree can be stripped from its bark every 9-12 years. The harvesting process does not harm the tree; On the contrary, a harvested cork oak tree absorbs up to five times more CO2 – a greenhouse gas that causes climate change – than a non-harvested one. Harvested trees live longer, up to three centuries.
Cork oak trees in Portugal alone help offset 10 million tons of carbon every year.
This important source of livelihood in the rural areas is a profession for the patient. It takes at least 25 years for the first harvest – interlinking the environment with centuries and generations.
GOLD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Cork is called the Gold of Portugal. The cork oak forests are the lungs of the environment, the economy and the society of the Mediterranean countries. Because of their crucial role for nature and the people, they are protected by law. As plastic is replacing cork in many of its traditional uses (for example wine bottle stoppers), it is crucial to find new uses for this material. By choosing to work with cork, we support the traditional source of livelihood and biodiversity of the cork oak woodlands.
Cork oak trees belong to pyrophytes or ‘fire plants’ as their thick bark creates a protective barrier against fire and heat. The cork oak tree grows one strong main root deep in the ground and a network of more shallow roots, binding nutrients into the soil and protecting the landscape from erosion. The benefits extend to the whole forest and to the rich animal life living in it.
Get inspired by our Cork Story or read more about
Our Community and production process.
You might also be interested in how to take care of cork products.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is cork leather? How is it made?
Cork leather is a high quality natural fabric, which is produced from the bark of the cork oak tree. The cork is laminated to a supporting fabric using aqueous adhesives. Cork as a leather is vegan, renewable and flexible material. Also, it’s durable, light-weight, water and dirt repellent and it ages with grace. Cork leather is a sustainable, eco-friendly choice for multiple products such as bags, back-packs, accessories. The cork has a ‘comb cell structure’, which means that the products are thermally, electrically and acoustically insulated.
How durable is the cork fabric? Does it crumble easily, like the wine bottle stoppers made from cork?
Cork wine bottle stoppers are made of cork granule, which makes them fragile and easy to crumble. However, our plant leather collection is made using the finest raw material from the cork oak trees using a different production process and therefore, the cork leather doesn’t crumble. Additionally, cork fabric is a naturally elastic material, which guarantees that the product will maintain its shape. The durability of the cork material is also indicated by the fact that it’s hypoallergenic, and both water and flame resistant.
Where do Thinkers & Makers products come from?
The cork used in our products is harvested from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) -certified cork forests in Portugal, respecting the natural cycle of the cork oak trees. The cork tress are harvested, not cut down. All our products are designed by our founder and designer Katriina Nuutinen at the Thinkers & Makers studio in Joensuu, Finland. After the prototypes are made in a local Joensuu based model studio, our trusted partners in Portugal sew the collection.
Are Thinkers & Makers cork products waterproof?
All our products are naturally water-resistant, we do not use any coating on our cork fabric. The cork material is also antimicrobial and antibacterial as well as very resistant to mold. Our products are not waterproof but the cork leather is a water-resistant material. If your cork products gets wet, we recommend you to dry it with a clean soft cloth and leave the item to dry in room temperature.
What are the main differences between cork leather and animal leathers and other textiles?
Compared to leather, cork fabric is lighter. The cork fabric is way stronger than most other textiles but it cannot reach the strength of animal leather. In comparison to many other materials, such as leather, cork is easy to maintain. While the consumer prices of cork leather goods do not differ greatly from the price of animal leather goods, the price for the environment is much lower: Cork is a natural, vegan product. No toxic waste is produced in the processing of cork leather and the cork oak forests play an important environmental and economical role in the Mediterranean. This is why we consider cork to be an ethically and environmentally better choice.
What products can be used to treat cork leather?
You don’t necessarily have to use any products, as the cork material is naturally water and dirt repellent. However, if you want to use a care product, we recommend natural products (such as beeswax or natural leather cream) and to test the product first on a small, invisible area. Please note that the products may slightly deepen the shade of your cork product. Read more about how to take care of cork products.
Is cork a vegan material?
Yes. Our cork fabric is PETA approved 100% vegan material. Only water-based glue and vegetable dye (in our black cork products) are used in the manufacturing of the cork fabric to minimize the presence of harmful chemicals.
How is the black cork fabric produced?
Some of our products have been vegetable dyed into black colour without using any harmful chemicals.
Aren’t cork trees endangered?
No. The cork trees are harvested, not cut down. The harvesting process does not harm the tree: On the contrary, a harvested cork oak tree absorbs up to five times more CO2 – a greenhouse gas that causes climate change – than a non-harvested one. Harvested trees live longer, up to three centuries. Making cork products actually helps preserve these important forests.
The problem is not that the cork trees are ‘endangered’. The problem is that the forests are cut down as plastic has replaced cork in many of its traditional uses and therefore the cork farmers can’t afford to maintain the forests. In other words, by choosing cork products, you support the local farmers and the biodiversity of the cork oak woodlands.
Why should I choose cork?
There are many reasons why you should choose cork. First and foremost, you can support the traditional source of livelihood and biodiversity of the cork oak woodlands as well as climate actions. By choosing a cork product, you make a sustainable, ecological statement. The cork material has many benefits, as explained above. Our cork products are carefully designed to offer modern, minimalist aesthetics and long-lasting practicality. We make products you can wear with pride.
If you did not receive an answer to your question, please contact us!
