A Lockdown inspired business that is making our fashion accessories more sustainable.

Sustainable Award for Women Making an Impact Finalist – Maira Azhar

Maira is extremely passionate about raising awareness of the benefits of using cork fabric in the production of vegan leather products and has launched House of Ethics on Etsy to sell her cork based products. Vegan leather is one of the fastest-growing segments of the fashion industry and cork fabric in particular, is possibly the most versatile and eco-friendly material.

Maira has been actively promoting cork fabric to combat the environmental impact of both fast fashion and the leather industry.

Since 2021, Maira, who has a Masters in Sustainable Development from UCL and a PGC in Sustainable Business from Cambridge, has been actively promoting cork fabric to combat the environmental impact of both fast fashion and the leather industry. Cork leather is a carbon negative product and her handbags are all bio-degradable.

The cork used in Maira’s products is sourced from the bark of oak trees found in Portugal, where the leather is made by chipping off bark, boiling and shaving it into thin tissue paper-like sheets, and then laminating it into usable pieces of material.

Maira is also a talented photographer and operates a ‘Grow your brand’ photographic business, which she uses to great effect promoting her own products at House of Ethics.

A proportion of all profits made by Maira is donated to girls’ education in Asia.

Maira will be sharing her passion (and maybe some sustainable accessory tips) at the Inspiring Women Awards Lunch 19/05/2023