Food Meets Fashion - Using potatoes to create vegan leather

Syddonna Brown Grizzle shows that you don’t have to sacrifice various careers or goals to satisfy that entrepreneurial itch. In other words, you don't have to give up one dream in order to pursue the other. 

From concerns about food waste to harsh realities of animal cruelty

Syddonna has always been interested in combating food waste, and with her interest, discovered that Canada discards significant amounts of potatoes. When her growing curiousity and an academic challenge collided, the pursuit to transform potatoes into textiles began.

“As I delved deeper into my research [of turning potatoes into textiles], I became acutely aware of the harsh realities of the animal skin trade and the adverse effects on public health to produce leather."

This revelation propelled Syddonna towards a mission to contribute to an innovative space that generates purposeful value.

"My goal is to address consumer concerns surrounding ethical production practices in the leather industry, offering a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative derived from the surplus of discarded potatoes.”

Bringing these textiles to life as Foobric

As a student of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Master of Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MEIE) program, Syddonna was equipped for success. Through MEIE, she was able to leverage mentors, entrepreneurial curriculum and incubation at Innovation Boost Zone to officially launch Foobric; a fashion startup that turns potatoes into vegan leather.

Since launching, Foobric has made incredible strides. Beyond winning Stage 1 of the Norman Esch Awards, Syddonna has been featured in an article from TorontoMet Today as well as winning the City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum Nobellum Audience Favourite Award.

You can pursue entrepreneurship and build your career

Syddonna’s success and achievements go beyond Foobric, showing that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be an isolating experience.

Currently, she is not only the CEO and Founder of Foobric, but an environmental & safety professional. You can expect that Syddonna will always be focusing her entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial efforts under one passion — making our planet a better place.