Authentic Material
Authentic Material is a French industrial manufacturer that transforms leather and organic waste into engineered composite (QILIN) and design (PHOENIX) materials using proprietary powder metallurgy technology, serving luxury fashion houses, leather goods manufacturers, and design ateliers, and now operating within Chanel's Nevold circular materials hub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersToulouse, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Authentic Material does
Authentic Material is a French industrial materials manufacturer founded in 2016 by Vincent Menny in Toulouse, specialising in the transformation of leather and other organic waste streams into engineered composite and design materials serving the luxury sector. The company's core technology adapts powder metallurgy processes originally developed for the aeronautics industry, using a proprietary continuous grinding system to micronise flexible leather into submillimeter powder with controlled particle size distribution, then re-bonding this powder through heat-press compaction or polymer-matrix loading to produce two flagship ranges: QILIN, composite materials with up to 50% leather powder content in polymers such as PA, TPU, PP, PEBA, and EVA, and PHOENIX, dense (1.3-1.45) rigid materials made exclusively from leather powder. The company holds patents on the transformation processes, generates revenue via quotation-based direct B2B sales to luxury Maisons, and operates a closed-loop service model where customer leather scraps are returned as reintegrated recycled materials.
The business model centres on three monetisation mechanisms: one-time material sales of QILIN and PHOENIX granule, powder, or moulded forms; professional-service transformation contracts under which Authentic Material processes customer-owned leather scraps and returns recycled outputs for reintegration; and bespoke R&D development for major luxury clients. Pricing is ex-works, quotation-based, with a 30% order deposit and balance on delivery. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supplemented by recurring presence at premium industry trade shows (Première Vision, LINEAPPELLE, Future Fabrics Expo, BLOSSOM, EPHJ, Sustainable Leather Forum, FORMAE) and a network of Italian and French manufacturing partners (MTWH, RAMPONI, MODA, Tacchificio Villa Cortese, Tacchificio Monti, New and Best, MOST, Gainerie91, Boutons Kocher) that process QILIN into finished fashion and footwear components. Named clients include Chanel (30% of handbags and 50% of shoes contain recycled reinforcements from the Nevold platform), Polène Paris (Solé bag collection), Boutons Kocher, and Gainerie91.
Following a 5 million EUR funding round in 2022 led by Chanel alongside Bpifrance, Cuir Invest, Giralda, and co-founder Noémie Dumesnil, Authentic Material consolidated into a 700m2 pilot plant in Portet-sur-Garonne. A November 2024 co-development partnership with Arkema expanded the QILIN range into bio-circular compounds (Rilsan polyamide 11 and Pebax TPE) targeting consumer electronics and automotive interiors in addition to luxury. In June 2025, the company was absorbed into Chanel's Nevold circular materials hub alongside L'Atelier des Matières and Filatures du Parc, backed by an estimated 50-80 million EUR investment to scale luxury-industry materials reuse.
Authentic Material firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Authentic Material
- Legal name
- Authentic Material
- Website
- https://authentic-material.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Authentic Material is a French industrial manufacturer that transforms leather and organic waste into engineered composite (QILIN) and design (PHOENIX) materials using proprietary powder metallurgy technology, serving luxury fashion houses, leather goods manufacturers, and design ateliers, and now operating within Chanel's Nevold circular materials hub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Authentic Material industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Composite Materials
- NAICS
- Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (3169)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium) (IMAOAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wallets, Small Leather Goods & Accessories Manufacturing (IMAOAHAB), Leather Goods Components & Subassemblies Manufacturing (Straps/Handles/Hardware Assemblies) (IMAOAHAI), Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands) (IMAOAFAG)
Keywords
Where Authentic Material is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toulouse
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Authentic Material business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Material Sales (QILIN and PHOENIX): Sale of recycled composite materials (QILIN) and leather powder materials (PHOENIX) to luxury brands, fashion accessories manufacturers, and design houses. Materials sold in granule form for injection molding, thermoforming, and 3D printing applications. Revenue from direct material sales with pricing based on quotation and specifications.
- Leather Transformation Service: Service contracts where Authentic Material transforms customer leather scraps and returns QILIN recycled materials to original owner. Customer is both supplier and user, creating closed-loop circularity. Service-based revenue model with transformation fees.
- Custom Material Development: Bespoke material development for luxury brands requiring customized recycled materials with specific properties. Engaged as R&D partner for major luxury houses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Authentic Material product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Authentic Material manufactures recycled leather composite materials (QILIN range) and 100% leather-powder rigid materials (PHOENIX range), using proprietary powder-metallurgy technology adapted from aeronautics. The company serves luxury fashion brands, leather goods houses, accessories manufacturers, and high-end watchmaking/design sectors via direct material sales, closed-loop leather transformation service contracts, and bespoke material R&D.
Product overview
Authentic Material is a manufacturer of natural and composite materials for the luxury and fashion industries, operating two core product lines: QILIN (composite materials with up to 50% leather powder content, serving as recycled alternatives to virgin plastics) and PHOENIX (100% natural materials made exclusively from compacted leather powder for design and craft applications). The company offers both standardized materials and closed-loop service agreements where customers' leather scraps are transformed and returned for reintegration into their products. Key sub-products include Pierre de Cuir (premium PHOENIX variant), QILIN Coquillage (shell-based composite), and QILIN Arkema compounds (bio-circular polymer blends).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QILIN: Composite materials reinforced with leather powder, sustainable alternatives to virgin plastics for fashion, luxury, automotive and consumer products
- PHOENIX
Products and services
- QILIN Composite materials reinforced with leather powder (up to 50% leather powder, 50% polymer matrices including PA, TPU, PP, PEBA and EVA), available in different Shore hardness grades, used as a sustainable alternative to virgin plastics for luxury goods, fashion, footwear, automotive interiors and consumer electronics.
- PHOENIX Range of exceptional materials made exclusively from leather powder, compacted under heat and pressure into dense (1.3–1.45 density), rigid, machinable stock for design, jewelry, interior design, watchmaking and artistic creations.
- Pierre de Cuir (Leather Stone) Premium PHOENIX-variant material made solely from plant-tanned leather scraps from an Occitanie tannery, presented as refined ingots for artistic, jewelry, and high-end design applications.
- QILIN Coquillage QILIN composite variant made of 50% bio-sourced vegetable-origin polymer and 50% recycled shell, designed as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics for luxury packaging, accessories and small leather goods (demonstrated via Exaltence photo-printing and Gainerie91 small leather goods).
- QILIN Arkema Compounds Compounds combining Authentic Material's recycled leather with Arkema's Rilsan® polyamide 11 or Pebax® TPE bio-circular polymers, sold under the Qilin™ brand and compatible with 3D printing and traditional extrusion/molding.
- Leather Transformation Service (Closed-Loop Service Agreement) Service contracts where Authentic Material takes in customer leather scraps and returns QILIN recycled composite materials to the original owner for reintegration into their products, with transformation fees on multi-year service agreements.
- Custom Material Development Bespoke material development service for luxury brands needing customised recycled materials with specific properties, delivered through dedicated R&D engagements on a project basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 50% reduction in plastic consumption through high leather powder loading
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Authentic Material
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Authentic Material technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Authentic Material partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Studio FoamminorStudio Foam, a multidisciplinary creation studio based in Paris founded by Caroline Venet, collaborated with Authentic Material to create the 'Leaf' collection featuring banc and side tables using PHOENIX materials with leather-covered wood elements.
- ArkemacoreArkema and Authentic Material partnered to offer innovative and more sustainable materials for the luxury goods market. The partnership combines Arkema's leadership in advanced bio-circular materials (Rilsan® polyamide 11, Pebax® TPE) with Authentic Material's leather recycling expertise. New compounds combining recycled leather with Arkema polymers are produced and sold under the Qilin™ brand, targeting luxury goods, fashion, consumer electronics, and automotive interiors.
- Italian Manufacturing Partners (MTWH, RAMPONI, MODA, TACCHIFICIO VILLA CORTESE, TACCHIFICIO MONTI, NEW AND BEST, MOST)minorNetwork of Italian manufacturing partners well-known in the leather goods industry who process QILIN materials into fashion and footwear accessories and components.
- Gainerie91minorFrench manufacturer producing small leather goods, including a set of small horses game with QILIN coquillage pieces.
- ExaltenceminorPartner producing photos printed on QILIN coquillage materials, demonstrating material versatility for premium applications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Authentic Material competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spiber: Japanese biotech firm producing Brewed Protein™ fibers from plant-based feedstocks for fashion and automotive applications. Comparable as a fermentation-derived alternative material company targeting luxury and apparel.
- MycoWorks: US-based maker of Reishi™, a mycelium-grown luxury alternative leather supplied to Hermès and other luxury houses. Direct competitor in the high-end alternative-materials category, competing for the same luxury procurement budgets and circular-materials briefs.
- Bolt Threads: US-based biotech company producing Mylo™ (mycelium leather) and b-silk™ protein-based materials for fashion and luxury. Comparable as a bio-fabricated alternative materials supplier with similar customer profile in luxury Maisons.
- Modern Meadow: US-based bio-fabrication company developing sustainable leather alternatives through protein-based technology. Direct competitor in the luxury and automotive alternative-materials space.
- Vegea: Italian producer of grape-waste-based alternative leather (Vegea) used by fashion brands including H&M and Diesel. Directly comparable as a recycled-biomass alternative leather targeting fashion and accessories.
- Ananas Anam (Piñatex): UK-based producer of Piñatex, an alternative leather made from pineapple leaf fibre. Comparable as a plant-based alternative leather sold to fashion, footwear, and accessories manufacturers globally.
Broad incumbents
- Aquafil (Econyl): Italian chemical company producing Econyl® regenerated nylon from ocean and landfill waste for fashion and carpet industries. Comparable as an established recycled-materials supplier with circular-economy positioning in fashion supply chains.
Emerging players
- Natural Fiber Welding: US-based materials company developing plant-based leather alternatives (Mirum®) for fashion and footwear. Comparable as a sustainable alternative-materials platform with luxury and brand-name customer adoption.
- Ecovative Design: US-based mycelium technology company producing Forager™ materials for fashion, packaging, and leather goods. Comparable as a bio-fabricated materials company developing leather alternatives for premium brands.
- Beyond Leather Materials: Danish producer of LEAP™, an apple-waste-based alternative leather. Comparable as a smaller-scale alternative-leather startup targeting fashion accessories and footwear, with overlapping customer profiles.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Authentic Material social profiles
Digital presenceAuthentic Material compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Authentic Material financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Authentic Material leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Authentic Material funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Authentic Material M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Authentic Material
What does Authentic Material do?
Authentic Material manufactures recycled leather composite materials (QILIN range) and 100% leather-powder rigid materials (PHOENIX range), using proprietary powder-metallurgy technology adapted from aeronautics. The company serves luxury fashion brands, leather goods houses, accessories manufacturers, and high-end watchmaking/design sectors via direct material sales, closed-loop leather transformation service contracts, and bespoke material R&D.
Is Authentic Material a public or private company?
Authentic Material is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Authentic Material founded?
Authentic Material was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Authentic Material based?
Authentic Material is headquartered in Toulouse, France, in the Europe region.
How does Authentic Material make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Material Sales (QILIN and PHOENIX) is the primary driver. The others are leather Transformation Service and custom Material Development.
Who are Authentic Material's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spiber, MycoWorks, Bolt Threads, Modern Meadow, Vegea and Ananas Anam (Piñatex). Aquafil (Econyl) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Natural Fiber Welding, Ecovative Design and Beyond Leather Materials.
Does Authentic Material have an API?
No public API is recorded for Authentic Material.
What industry is Authentic Material in?
Authentic Material's product category is Recycled Composite Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAHAH, Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium), with a secondary code of IMAOAHAB, Wallets, Small Leather Goods & Accessories Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 316 and its SIC code is 3100.