NEEMALabs

NEEMA Labs is a Cyprus-based sustainable materials startup developing VELO, a plant-based leather alternative made from prickly pear cactus residues and other bio-based ingredients.

Our work focuses on transforming underused agricultural biomass into flexible sheet and foam materials for fashion, accessories, packaging and interior design applications. VELO is designed for brands, designers and manufacturers looking for alternatives to fossil-based synthetic leather and resource-intensive conventional materials, while keeping aesthetics, processability and commercial relevance at the centre of development.

The material is currently at pilot-validation stage. We are working on improving mechanical performance, flexibility, surface finish, coating compatibility, durability and scalable production. Our current focus is on applications such as bags, wallets, small leather goods, packaging concepts, design objects and other products where sustainable material storytelling, tactile quality and circular design are important.

We are looking to connect with:

• Fashion designers and accessory brands interested in testing VELO in real products
• Sustainable fashion, textile and material innovators
• Buyers, retailers and distributors exploring next-generation material solutions
• Manufacturers and converters with experience in coating, finishing, lamination, cutting, sewing or product assembly
• Pilot production, textile finishing and scale-up partners
• Circular economy and bio-based materials stakeholders
• Investors and strategic partners interested in sustainable material innovation

We are open to pilot collaborations, material testing partnerships, designer-led prototyping, co-development projects and commercial discussions with brands seeking distinctive, bio-based and circular material solutions.

Our goal is to bring a new generation of responsible materials to the fashion and design industries: materials that are technically credible, visually appealing, scalable, and rooted in the valorisation of natural waste streams.