On our way to a fully circular handbag
The leather industry is worth $500 billion. And almost every product goes to waste. Today's leather goods are full of plastic components hidden underneath the surface, making them impossible to recycle. We decided to challenge the status quo and are on our way to create vegan, plastic-free and bio-based leather goods fit for the circular economy.
A plastic-free vegan leather
After years of development, MELINA BUCHER was the world's first brand to launch a handle bag made with MIRUM® - the groundbreaking 100% bio-based, plastic-free vegan leather. Our pioneering work received global attention and was awarded major awards like the German Sustainability Award in Design and the PETA Vegan Fashion Award.
Meet our MIRUM® Collection
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Another Bailey
Regular price From €590 EURRegular priceUnit price / per€490 EURSale price From €590 EUR
What's in your bag
Regular boring bag
Really nice MB bag
Outer material
PU-coated animal leather or PU-coated textile ("synthetic leather")
Lining
Polyester / cotton
Thread
Polyester
Handle reinforcement
Synthetic (PVC / EVA)
Bottom reinforcement
Synthetic (non-woven / PU-coated cardboard)
Padding
Synthetic (PU foam / PES non-woven)
Outer material
100% bio-based, plastic-free MIRUM®
Lining
Certified organic cotton from Cotonea Germany
Thread
C2C-certified polyester / waxed linen
Handle reinforcement
Undyed, organic cotton
Bottom reinforcement
100% bio-based nonwoven made from Hemp
Padding
100% bio-based from mycelium / mushroom / plants
Extensive material Research
In our collaborative atelier in Germany, designers and master bag makers work hand in hand with scientists from all over the world. We test new material innovations and develop our own components based on algae, mycelium, hemp and more to replace current synthetic leather components.
Learn more about vegan leather
Where we still need to improve
We have found bio-based material alternatives for most of the components of our handbags. We are still experimenting in the sectors of glues and edge finishing, where we plan to have bio-based solutions until 2025.
OUR EU PROJECTS
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Fashion For Change
Learn moreThe Fashion For Change Accelerator funded by the EU Cosme programme provided 25 outstanding EU partnerships working on circular fashion funds and a consultancy program. As one of the selected partnerships, we worked together with 540 World from UK on our circularity strategy.
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WORTH II
Learn moreWORTH is the sole European project where designers, SMEs, manufacturers, and tech providers work together to develop innovative, design-oriented business ideas. As winner of the WORTH II call, we worked together with a Serbian manufacturer on enhancing our biomaterial content.