Tina Funder

When Tina Funder set out to create a vegan leather handbag brand, she assumed the right materials already existed. But when every so-called ‘sustainable leather alternative she found still relied on petroleum-based plastics, she realised the industry was missing something critical: a truly 100% bio-based leather alternative. So she decided to build it herself. With Alt.Leather, Tina and a team of incredible scientists are pioneering a new era of sustainable materials, creating a leather alternative that doesn’t just reduce plastic use - it eliminates it entirely. Her journey from advertising creative to material innovator is a testament to the power of asking, what if no one has solved this yet - so what if I do? At Sunrise, Tina will share the story of challenging industry norms, the science behind her next-gen material, and what it takes to build a breakthrough product from scratch. If you care about innovation, sustainability, and the future of materials, don’t miss this session.