fish processing industry is pretty vague. farmed or wild caught is the question. prob farmed though because it is so common.

also I don't know why you would question if it smelled fishy, it's leather. Cow hide doesn't smell like steak.

High end shoe makers have been using this leather for years to get around the ban of other valuable skins like python in states like California.

It just looks itchy to me. I pillow made of that stuff doesn't invite me to lounge. It's interesting to look at, but it isn't the sort of texture that says "home" to me.

Bears love it.

lol bepsf

This stuff is chic, but I wonder how durable it is...?

"The company prides itself on using fair-trade principles and only uses skin that is discarded by the fish processing industry."

So what are the principles of the fish processing industry that discards the skin?

Holy mackerel! Wonder if this will spawn any more new leather ideas -- but I can't really sea how comfy it'd be. It'd be all right if it wasn't the sole material (maybe an accent).

I'll be here all week, folks.

Well, isn't leather usually from cows slaughtered for other purposes? I know it's a waste stream, but...urgh. To this hippie, sustainability's a tough sell.

ew

As if growing thirsty cotton, by turning millions of acres of natural savannah into plowed fields, depleting water resourses and spewing insecticides, is somehow "greener" or kinder to the wildlife?

@Nani: seriously? Killing something for its skin is better than maybe-killing plants and animals? Also, your argument assumes that land- and pesticide-intensive plant crops are the only ones available. They're not. I think my second favorite thing is when people try to justify inhumane or environmentally destructive things by claiming that the alternatives proposed by those in favor of humane, environmentally-conscious individuals are inhumane and environmentally destructive. My first-favorite thing is when meat-eaters try to convince non-meat-eaters that plants could be sentient, we don't know, so we might as well kill animals.

This could all be solved by considering for a moment how we'd like it if the shoe were on the other foot, we were one step down from the top of the food/use chain, and some other species were justifying skinning us for pillows.

It's an interesting concept. I never thought about using fish skin that way. On a separate note, can we please try to be respectful and courteous on AT? You are messing with my chi.
Thanks.

Isaac Mizrahi brought attention to this about a year ago when he and other artists were commissioned to develop new uses for sustainably harvested materials. He made this gorgeous dress.

Doing some poking around on the internets, I've found articles back to 1992 about salmon skin being used in the shoe industry. Having been around so long, I bet we've all already come across "salmon leather" at some point and not even realized it. Very cool.

I think it's a great idea. Lots of people love salmon, but fewer people love salmon skin. Might as well find a use for it.

I think it's a great idea too.

I never really thought of cuttling up to a fish pillow. ;) I think the designers are really floundering for new ideas. (somebody stop me!)

if you throw these pillows in the bathtub, will they swim upstream?

I am envisioning a frightening "diy" verson of salmon leather--say an after-dinner project? ick.

@japanese2english, your comments on the fish leather are corny and hilarous.

these are awesome! I love the colours. I'd forgo eating salmon skin sushi for some of this stuff, no prob :)

I adore the title. A Leather Alternative: Salmon Leather! Who is writing these things?!

@chartreuse i got a kick from the title as well: "A Leather Alternative" that's, well, leather.

Chic?! This is disgusting, as are all other "skin" fabrics. Its skin people! SKIN. Think about it.