Kenya’s future fashion industry could be all about fish skin. A local foods factory in the city of Kitale is turning wasted fish skins into leather. Victorian Foods works with around 300 fishermen in Kenya’s north, who provide it with Nile perch.
The fish skins are put into a tannery machine after its scales have been removed and soaked for an hour. Following that, banana extract is added to remove the unpleasant fish odour and salt is used to strengthen the fibres. It is then soaked for a further eight hours.
According to Victorian Foods the fish skin leather has been used to make shoes, jackets, handbags and purses.
The company also said there is growing interest from the automobile industry to use fish leather for car interior decor.
