Piñatex pineapple leather was developed in the 1990s by Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder of London-based company Ananas Anam. Dr. Hijosa worked in the design and manufacturing of leather goods for many years before she began researching the development of products made from natural fibres. Her goal was to bridge the gap between leather and petroleum based leather alternatives by developing textiles using only processes that enhance the well-being of the planet through the entire life cycle of the products. Piñatex is made of fibre from the waste leaves of pineapple plants. These leaves are a by-product of existing pineapple harvests, so the raw material requires no additional environmental resources to produce.