In celebration of Earth Month and as part of its continued commitment to sustainability, Fossil has launched the Kier Cactus Leather Totes made in partnership with the Mexico-based company Desserto as part of the company’s pro-planet assortment.

The stunning brand-new tote bags are made from cactus leather that comes from organically grown cactus leaves developed by Desserto. The cactus plants require only rainwater and Earth minerals for growth, and once harvested, the leaves are dried in the sun for three to six days to remove any additional energy source for the drying process.

The trunk of each cactus is left intact in order to enable repeat harvesting as the leaves regenerate every six to eight months. Each Kier tote saves 7.5 liters of water – the equivalent of fifteen 500 milliliter water bottles. The Kier Cactus Leather Totes are available in four colors (moss, wine, black, and brown) and retail for $298 each.

“After witnessing first-hand the impact that tanneries have on the environment, we sought to create a vegan alternative that leaves a lighter footprint while meeting our rigorous quality standards,” says Marte Cázarez, cofounder of Desserto. “Almost immediately, we decided to leave our jobs and dedicate the next two years to designing and creating a solution."

Desserto cofounder Adrián López Velarde adds, "Since first introducing Desserto cactus leather to the world in 2019, we have continued to develop and educate others on our materials and sustainable processes. Today, we are proud to partner with brands, like Fossil, who share a vision of reducing their environmental impact through the use of eco-friendly materials.”

The launch follows commitments made by Fossil in 2019 as part of the brand’s ongoing Make Time For Good initiative, which is dedicated to making change in communities throughout the world through the use of pro-planet materials, products and packaging, as well as reducing its footprint in water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Fossil is also launching the World-Timer, the second iteration of its limited-edition Solar Watch, on Earth Day. The watch features a solar-powered movement with rechargeable battery, which can reach a full charge after eight hours in the sun and will retain charge for up to three months. The 42mm watch case is made with castor oil while the rPet strap is made from post-consumer plastic bottles. 

In addition to its pro-planet designs, the World-Timer includes a compass, stopwatch, alarm, timer, and world time function. In the world time function, one can choose from 49 cities around the world to easily check the local time in different locations. The limited-edition watch will retail for $155 and will be available beginning April 22.

Fossil is also excited to expand its assortment of pro-planet styles in its seasonal collections. Solar watches in the bestselling Minimalist and Jacqueline styles will be available in multiple color-ways this summer. More classic styles from Fossil’s bags will also be re-released in eco-leather in Summer 2021.

Since being introduced to Fossil’s product assortment last fall, more than 90% of the brand’s leather material for bags and small leather goods is now sourced from Leather Working Group certified tanneries. Approximately 1.8 million gallons of water have been saved through the use of 1.5 million square feet of eco-leather, sourced in partnership with Fossil’s pro-planet leather providers.

“Over the course of the last two years, our teams have worked diligently to identify areas of our business that make the largest environmental impact and to chart the course towards meaningful charge,” says Steve Evans, EVP Chief Brand Officer. “The result is an index of commitments that we’ve established to leave a smaller footprint and better world for future generations. Some of these changes include introducing more pro-planet materials like recycled stainless steel and litehide leather into our assortment, removing foam material from packaging, and moving to ensure all paper goods are made from a minimum of 80% recycled material. Fossil believes that when we combine our time and passion, we can make lasting change for people and the planet.”

For more information and to purchase, click here. Follow on Instagram: @fossil

[Images courtesy of Fossil]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk