Allégorie Is Making Bags Out of Apples and Mangos
Some pieces even smell like the fruit. Yum.

Sustainability. It's the ubiquitous word you've likely heard from your favorite fashion brands as of late—from ASOS, which just launched its first circular collection, to Gucci, which debuted its first-ever environmentally-friendly collection Off the Grid. The fashion industry as a whole has increasingly been working to rectify its contributions to waste creation and climate change, especially as consumers become more conscious of what they're purchasing. (According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second, while the fashion industry produces 20 percent of the global wastewater and 10 percent of global carbon emissions.)
The negative environmental and social impact that consumers can have, simply from buying something they like, is what inspired Allégorie Co-Founder Heather Jiang to look for more creative solutions in reducing waste and encouraging recyclability. Her out-of-the-box idea? Creating high-quality and durable accessories such as backpacks and crossbody bags out of discarded fruits.
Allégorie's first product launch was a cardholder made of mango leather.
"It's a relatively new thing to incorporate fruit and plant fiber into bags," Jiang says. "We spent a couple years searching the globe, trying to find the best possible material. We tried using pineapple, mushroom, banana, and did some trial and error testing until we developed our own formula."
Currently, the one-year-old accessories line offers small "leather" goods for under $100 to larger pieces, like a backpack retailing for $325, all made from either whole mangos or from the skins of apples.
The technical challenges of turning food into a useable material that looks and feels like leather—not to mention, non-environmentally friendly material is often more readily available and cheaper to use in fashion (hello, PVC and polyester)—means there is less corporate investment in what Jiang is exploring. She notes that her and her co-founder, Jen, often work with smaller, community-based start ups to source the fruits and produce the actual product. Another hurdle that they've faced and overcome: The seasonality of the supply of the raw materials. The good news is though, the team can stock up on the fruit leather, it won't rot or go bad, when there is an ample supply of the fruit.
"Our partner suppliers collect the wasted apples from apple farms or the mangos not sold in the supermarket and [turn it] into 'leather' at their facilities," Jiang says. "The dye [used] on the accessories are plant based or environmentally-friendly dyes. [Once we get the leather], the actual making of the bags is here in the heart of NYC. We're embracing the heritage of the garment district."
"Our products are like allegories that deliver a broader message about real world issues. We are a socially and environmentally responsible brand, which means it's always more than just a bag. It's a choice of lifestyle and belief on what's good for the planet and future generations."
The Allégorie founders receive their fruit leather from countries such as Japan, Italy, Netherlands, and Taiwan. They also work to ensure the supply chain process is transparent and ethical by visiting the facilities themselves and speaking to the people collecting the fruits. "This is a growing community, so we are dependent on each other and trust each other to make it work for everyone," Jiang says.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
To take the eco-friendly angle one step further, the lining inside Allégorie products are made with a combination of plant-based polymer materials and recycled polyester fibers. "The plant-based part is called biomass-derived polymers that's made from crops such as corn or sugar cane. The recycled polyester fibers are recycled and created in a highly eco-efficient way that uses 84 percent less energy than traditional way of producing the same kind of materials," Jiang shares.
"We've received tremendous feedback [from friends and family like] 'OMG, this smells like mango' or 'this smells like real leather and is durable," Jiang says of the year-old brand. Her and Jen are currently a two-woman team trying to expand Allégorie's eco-friendly brand reputation and messaging to consumers. They're taking the business day by day, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of all this, Jiang acknowledges that Allégorie isn't fully 100 percent sustainable yet and is working to solve this while also discovering more fruits/vegetables to add to their Rolodex of raw materials. "We went through a phrase where nothing worked and we had the chance of maybe comprising a little bit on the material, but that's not what our brand is about. We want to explore all the options possible," she says. "Collectively, we can push [the fashion] industry to a more sustainable future."
Shop Some of Allégorie's Products Below
RELATED STORIES
Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's now the Senior Commerce Editor at House Beautiful, where she owns coverage on deals and sales across home decor and accessories, in-depth product reviews on furniture and appliances, as well as news around new product launches since 2023. With help from leading designers and tastemakers, Marina spotlights quality products while tracking current design trends, a skill she’s mastered over six years in fashion media. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, beginning her career in narrative-driven commerce coverage as an editorial assistant at PopSugar.
-
Why Duchess Sophie Allegedly Feels "Snubbed" by King Charles
"There should be an opportunity for Sophie to be allowed to do more," a royal expert claimed.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Dua Lipa Swaps Her Valentino Dress for a Marni Mini Skirt
The singer accessorized her outfits with more than $120,000 of jewelry.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Harry Was Allegedly Crushed When William Received "Special Treatment"
"Poor Harry's face across the table," Princess Diana's former butler recalled.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Marie Claire Editors Are Obsessed With This Cult-Favorite Sale
SSENSE has everything a fashion enthusiast could ever want.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
These Best-in-Class Brands Thrive by Staying Small
Forget dominating an entire fashion industry. These labels are satisfied with perfecting a single category.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Spring 2025's Candy-Coated Shoe Color Trends Prove Neutrals Are Overrated
Bold pastels and sugar-sweet hues promise to overtake your boring shoe lineup.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
Issa Rae Is Fueling Her Mogul Era With More Me Time
The key to her success lies in self-care.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
13 Hailey Bieber Outfit Formulas Defining Her Laidback Personal Style
Copy and paste to your closet.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
8 Women Over 60 Share Their Age-Defying Fashion Wisdom
These eight style icons prove that age-appropriate fashion is a myth.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Margaret Qualley's Backless Chanel 2025 Oscars Dress Secretly Nods to 'The Substance'
The backward necklace is the cherry on top.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Embrace 2025’s Cherry Red Color Trend With These Delectable Accessories
Try the tart shade with accessories like glossy handbags and sweet slingbacks.
By Lauren Tappan Published