Last week, we reported a company creating ‘cotton’ out of potato peel. This week, its ‘snakeskin’ crafted from brewers’ spent grain.

In a “groundbreaking” partnership, Arda Biomaterials and Been London have co-produced a snakeskin-type handbag with product sourced locally from London’s ‘Beer Mile’ in Bermondsey.

This first-of-a-kind handbag, which is a version of Been’s bestselling Millais bag, marks the debut use of Arda’s pioneering leather-like material, New Grain, in an external product. 

Described as an “extraordinary next-generation material” New Grain is a byproduct of the beer brewing and whisky distilling industries. By leveraging a globally abundant source of plant proteins, the tech company “can replace plastics, mimic the structure of collagen — the protein leather is made of — while working closely with breweries to offer a truly scalable material across industries”.

By ‘skipping the cow’ (or the snake in this case), and bypassing animal-derived materials, New Grain “significantly enhances resource efficiency while achieving unique qualities unattainable by animal skins”. 

The fabric allows for customisability in patterns, thickness, colours, elasticity, flexibility, scents, and beyond, we’re told.

Moreover, the production process generates 97% fewer CO2 emissions compared to traditional leather and avoids the harmful tanning process, contributing to a cleaner environment and zero microplastics.

The handbag is the first item in a upcoming collection of accessories, to include more bag styles, plus wallets, laptop cases, launching later this year.

Brett Cotten, CEO of Arda, said: “Launching this showpiece handbag with Been is a significant milestone for Arda. It demonstrates our ability to innovate and work toward commercialising high-quality materials that are not full of animals and plastic for consumers. We are excited to continue our journey with BEEN London, pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion, home goods, sportswear, gaming, and beyond.”