PEEL: Fruit Skins As Materials
Regenerative Material System
"PEEL: Fruit Skins as Materials" investigates the use of discarded fruit skins like salak and lychee to create a biodegradable textile. In contrast to conventional leather and synthetic alternatives, this project employs a low-impact, chemical-free process that maintains the skins' natural texture and color. By applying this material to furniture and accessories, PEEL offers a scalable circular alternative that revalues waste through craftsmanship and responsible production.
PEEL is an ingenious concept that reduces the environmental impact of traditional leather production while upscaling the use of fruit waste. It proposes the use of fruit skins to make fully biodegradable textiles that can be used in furniture and accessories, providing a circular alternative for the whole sector.
WINNER STATEMENTReceiving the iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD for PEEL feels like a meaningful recognition of what the project set out to do: reframe waste as something worth celebrating. Salak and lychee are native to where I grew up, and this award makes me proud to carry that heritage forward through design.
UNIVERSITYRoyal College of Art & Imperial College London
London, GB