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BrownSkin
Who are we?
BrownSkin is a South Korean sustainable materials startup pioneering the world’s first regenerated leather made from food and leather waste mixture. By tackling environmental issues like chemical pollution, leather industry waste, and low recycling rates, BrownSkin has developed a circular production model achieving over 95% recycling efficiency.
Fast Facts
Headquarters: South Korea
Stage: Early commercialization
Sector: Sustainable materials / Circular fashion & design
Founding team:
CEO: Sang-gyu Nam – 30+ years in leather & manufacturing
CTO: Bong-yong Ju – 40 years in handbag production (ex-Mizmodo)
R&D Head: Dr. Kim Won-ju – 25 years in leather R&D
Advisor: Prof. Jae-young Lee – PhD in Fashion Design, ex-MOTIE evaluator
COO: Mingu Cho – tech, sales, and marketing background
Product & Technology
Brownskin’s innovation is a leather-like sheet material,
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Made from recycled food waste and leather scraps
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Processed with minimal plastic or petroleum binders (PU-free version in development)
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Produced using custom Italian-engineered machinery
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Durable, flexible, and customizable (various textures/colors)
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Applicable to fashion, packaging, footwear, cosmetics containers, and upholstery
The company is also developing a material sourcing platform to track and optimize waste collection and supply chain logistics.
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Traction
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Materials used by major partners in Korea (e.g. Lotte, Hyundai Design)
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Pilot products launched in Korea across cosmetics and packaging sectors
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Ongoing collaboration with Italian leather process engineers
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Strong influencer-backed marketing traction
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Export-ready: rolls can be shipped globally; packaging optimized for cost efficiency
Key Differentiators
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World’s first agro-based regenerated leather (not plant-based plastic)
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Competitive pricing: $20/yd vs $58 for leading vegan leathers
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Patented and certified tech
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Full vertical integration from R&D to product development
Why Africa?
Africa faces challenges with leather waste, low recycling rates, and a growing need for ethical and sustainable materials in fashion and manufacturing. BrownSkin offers:
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A low-cost, high-quality leather alternative
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Circular economy approach that aligns with
African green policy goals -
A value proposition to local producers and ethical brands
Why BrownSkin?
BrownSkin delivers affordable, sustainable leather alternatives with superior performance (120% tensile strength, antimicrobial, etc.) and 95% resource circulation.
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It enables African companies to adopt eco-friendly materials without compromising on quality or aesthetics.​
Book now
Don't miss your chance to explore collaborations and forge meaningful partnerships. Schedule a meeting with BrownSkin today and be a part of the future of African innovation!​
What we are looking for:​
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B2B Clients in Africa
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Fashion brands, designers, interior studios, boutique furniture makers
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Ethical cosmetics or packaging brands
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Agri-Waste Suppliers
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Fruit peel, coffee grounds, or plant fiber processors
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Manufacturing / Transformation Partners
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Leather or textile processors to produce items locally from imported sheets
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Warehouses to host material finishing or micro-factories
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Distribution / Retail Partners
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Retailers or online platforms focused on sustainable design and lifestyle
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Regulatory Support / ESG Funders
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Climate-smart sourcing and material innovation incentives
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Fashion sustainability programs and eco-export incentives
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