Development of mango-based bio-leather: applications in fashion accessory design

Abstract

Currently, the global fashion accessory industry relies heavily on animal leather and petroleum-based synthetic leather, which cause severe environmental impacts and resource depletion. Faced with this alarming reality, there is a necessary shift worldwide toward the use of natural fibers and sustainable biomaterials. Substituting conventional materials with natural fibers not only mitigates the pollution generated by traditional leather manufacturing processes but also promotes global environmental conservation efforts. The objective of this study is to create a biologically derived material aimed at developing a bioleather for application in the textile industry. The selected subject for this research is mango, a common agricultural product in Vietnam. The mangoes are purchased from local markets, cleaned, blended with various chemicals, and then dried. The chemicals used include citric acid, pectin, malt extract, and oats. The drying temperature ranges from 60_C to 70_C, and the drying time is between 14 and 15 hours. The results show that the bioleather made from mango has a fairly similar appearance to genuine cowhide. The material achieves an average tensile strength of 146.94 N and an average tear strength of 6.22 N. The material is also coated with a layer of chitosan, providing a surface water resistance rating of level 1. Despite some limitations in durability, bioleather’s appealing aesthetic properties make it a promising material for fashion accessory applications. These results demonstrate the potential of mango in creating a biological material suitable for application in the textile industry.