By Helen Morgan / Source: Ecouterre

Heidi and Adele’s eco fashion designs are celebrated not only for their dynamic sense of style but for using an intriguing alternative leather: and eel skin as byproducts of the food industry. This may be off-putting for the faint hearted, but here at Ecouterre we love their clever use of the sustainable materials to create confident, stylish accessories—such as clutch bags, wallets and card holders—hat are as durable as they are glamorous. Their label has been going from strength to strength since they launched in 2013, all the while keeping their ethical and environmentally friendly aims in focus. In this insightful interview, the London-based designers discuss the process of acquiring the skins and transforming them into these unique designs.

How would you describe your designs?

Our designs are a combination of classic shapes and vibrant colours and textures. Our collection is created with professional women in mind and as such form and function are both equally important. Being able to easily transition from a busy day life to a glamorous night life is a clear advantage in a world where we are increasingly time-poor.

Clever details like pockets for smartphones and retractable wristlets that enable a wallet or pouch to be used as a clutch, like our “Antibes” and “Pick Me Up” models, has differentiated us from many of our competitors.

Our best known and greatest feature, however, is still the incredible eco-skins that we use. The variety, exuberance and beauty of these skins ensures that each bag becomes an inimitable statement piece perfectly blending sustainability and style.

How did Heidi and Adèle begin?

The story really begins in 1993 when we met at school. Friends ever since, we decided to start our business in 2013. We knew we would work well together because we have a similar life ethos: where happiness is the greatest measure of success.

So we created Heidi and Adèle the brand. We wanted to be 100 percent hands-on and, to this date, there are no middlemen or agents involved at any stage of the process. This allows us to offer the best possible quality at the lowest possible price, with the added guarantee that all parts of the process are in line with our ethical guidelines.

From where do you source your materials?

As byproducts of the food industry, our eco-exotic leathers are produced close to where the animals are farmed and consumed. Therefore, our salmon skins come from Iceland and our eel skins from Korea.

Read more @ Ecouterre