We’ve all heard of wine corks, corkboards, cork floats and cork flooring, but the latest innovation in cork is cork fabric or cork leather. Light, soft, supple and durable, cork fabric is now being used to create a wide variety of unlikely products including clothing, handbags, furniture and even automotive interiors.

If you are thinking, "Oh, I’ve seen cork used as accents on lots of things," then you are in for a surprise. While cork has been used sparingly for years as distinctive accents, most often as a tag on a hang bag or a heel of a shoe, today luxury fashion accessories and more are being made almost entirely from cork! Clearly, today’s cork is beyond yesterday’s cork.

The beauty of cork goes beyond its’ sophisticated looks. Cork does not retain moisture, which means it’s waterproof and the nature of cork does not allow it to harbor bacteria. Cork has been used for thousands of years and is making a resurgence due to the public’s heightened awareness to conserve and use the worlds’ resources wisely.

Cork is Eco-Friendly!

Cork comes from cork oak trees (Quercus suber) which grow mainly around the western Mediterranean Sea. It grows as a thick protective bark around the trunk of the tree and can be shaved off every twelve years, without damage, throughout the oak’s 150 year lifespan. No trees, animals or forests are harmed in the production of cork and it’s a renewable resource.

Cork oak forests are carefully monitored and cultivated. The cork is manually harvested by skilled de-barkers in order to prevent harm to the trees. The gathered bark is stored at a logging station and allowed to dry naturally. Next, it’s boiled to flatten it and soften it enough to work with. The cork is then cut into strips and processed in a special machine. The cork is transformed into a soft, supple and luxurious cloth that is similar to leather in many ways.

Cork oak forests need no chemical herbicides, fertilizers or irrigation. Planting of cork trees has prevented desertification of dry regions in southern Portugal, reducing soil erosion and providing a livelihood for local populations. As an (one of the most) underutilized resource(s), this newer use of cork in fashion apparel and accessories has begun to show up on elegant fashion runways around the world.

This renewable resource is doubly valuable because maintaining cork oak forests allows an entire ecosystem to be preserved. This offers protection to many species including the endangered Iberian lynx and the Barbary Macaque in northwest Africa. Because cork is gathered entirely by hand, the harvesting process is non-invasive. Furthermore, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) "cork oak forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats, as well as the highest diversity of plants found anywhere in the world".

And remember, in the cork industry nothing is wasted. Because the properties of cork lend themselves to many applications, every scrap is used. Cork that is not suited for bottle stoppers or cork fabric is ground up and reused in the familiar corkboards and coasters we see every day.

Only the Beginning?

Because of its cell structure, some of cork’s unique qualities are low density, ability to be compressed and then rebound, fire resistance, insulative properties and resistance to abrasion. A cubic inch of cork has millions of cells filled with atmospheric gases. This is why cork floats, and since air can be compressed, a cork will also compress when forced into a bottle and then expand to form a tight seal. Its insulative ability was well known as early as the 14th century in Europe when cork soles were used on footwear to insulate from cold castle floors. Today cork soles are still used for cushioned comfort and long wear. Ask anyone who wears Birkenstocks.

There is no other material, either man-made or natural, with all the properties and characteristics that are unique to cork. Because of this unparalleled combination of properties, cork raw material has a wide variety of applications. With its light-weight honeycomb structure and its flexible membrane, cork is the ideal material for products ranging from stoppers to floats, from floor and wall coverings to gasket material, from clothing to coasters.

But that’s not all. There are literally an astounding number of uses for this incredibly versatile, durable and environmentally sound material including building insulation, musical instruments, golf clubs, life jackets and even the heat shield of the Space Shuttle. Did you know that the US Library of Congress still has its original cork floors that were installed in 1890? As people become more aware of cork and its advantages, more people will start using this wonderful material in many aspects of their lives.

In a world that is seeking environmentally sustainable solutions, cork fashion is emerging along with a host of other innovations. Using products made from cork will help save the forests and protect endangered species.