My senior year of college fell in the September after the COVID-19 outbreak—a time when many of us had too much space to daydream and dive into new tiktok rabbit holes. One of which became a mission in life- using alternative exotic leathers in my creations for my senior thesis collection.
As someone who has always cared deeply about animal welfare, I began exploring ways to integrate these underutilized materials into my leatherwork. The idea aligned with one of my core beliefs: that we should be more connected to what we consume, and if an animal’s life is taken, every part of it should be used. That’s why many of my first projects repurposed restaurant waste leathers.
We’ve all seen crocodile or snakeskin splashed in red paint on runways to bring awareness to the horrific treatment of animals in the fashion industry. But what about fish skin? Or other overlooked hides that quietly go to waste because they aren’t considered as “desirable” as lizard or alligator? Critics also challenge the ethics of traditional leather, but at its core, leather is a byproduct of the meat industry—most of it would end up in a landfill if not transformed into something lasting.
About a year later, I discovered invasive species leathers, which resonated even more deeply with me. I grew up in the woods of Michigan, where invasive plants had choked out the natural springs in my backyard. As a climate activist, I know that invasive species are one of the leading causes of extinction and this seems like a way to get rid of nuisance creatures, but also using their bodies to create something beautiful
From that point forward, I founded BOEWA with a clear mission: to challenge people to care about the accessories they buy and to help preserve our planet.
