Bulrush Leather

Bulrush Leather is a biobased material crafted from bulrush (Typha latifolia) fibres and seeds, bonded with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The result is a flexible, translucent, leather-like canvas with exceptional textural qualities and biodegradability.

Each sheet exhibits a distinctive organic aesthetic with randomly distributed fibres creating unique, tactile surfaces in warm brown tones. The material’s flexibility allows it to be moulded into various forms, whilst its translucency offers intriguing light-filtering properties. Natural pigmentation produces its earthy brown hues, though darker colourways are achievable through pigment integration.

Bulrush Leather material was made for the critical design project Reductio ad lermaense, a critical design project addressing the ecological crisis of Mexico’s Lerma wetlands. This bio-based material seeks to transforms bulrush (Typha latifolia) into a new material resource, demonstrating how environmental challenges can catalyse material innovation.