What is ICTYOS?
ICTYOS is a Lyon-based startup that combines the traditional savoir-faire of a French tannery with an eco-friendly approach by transforming fish skins from the food industry into very high quality marine leathers through a vegetable tanning process. This innovative project embraces heritage while taking a bold step toward sustainable luxury. The full range of offerings includes CUIR DE SAUMON (Squama® variants), CUIR DE TRUITE (Luna® variants), CUIR DE LOUP DE MER (Naya® variants), and CUIR D’ESTURGEON (Nova® variants), as well as CUIR DE CARPE, along with special collections like COLORIS COLLECTION and COLLECTION VÉGÉTALE for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The project is all about bringing out the natural beauty, durability, and unique elegance of marine leathers, making them highly sought-after for ornamentation, watchmaking, leather goods, and marquetry.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
The benefits of this approach and the quality of its products truly stand out:
- Exceptional quality marine leathers crafted from fish skins using environmentally friendly processes.
- Distinct product lines such as Squama®, Luna®, Naya®, and Nova® – each with diverse finishes like Brut, Brillant, Satiné, Métallisé, Irisé, Dégradé, and Délavé.
- Materials with unique properties – tight and perfectly symmetrical grain, fine and regular textures, and an innovative combination of flexibility and elasticity.
- Products that serve multiple applications, from high-end ornamentation to precision watchmaking and detailed marquetry.
- An exclusive provenance ensuring each leather carries its own signature, a true mark of singular refinement.
Exploring Marine Leathers
CUIR DE SAUMON, or salmon leather, is represented by the Squama® collection – Brut, Brillant, Satiné, Métallisé, Irisé, and Dégradé. Each variant offers a unique finish and a remarkable grain that is not only tight but perfectly symmetrical. This lends the material an adaptability that is hard to match, whether for ornamental details or artistic creations. The story continues with CUIR DE TRUITE, featuring the Luna® collection with finishes such as Brut, Brillant, Satiné, Métallisé, and Irisé. The fine and regular texture of trout leather makes it an innovative material that captures the robust spirit of French rivers. There is something inherently captivating in these marine leathers – a blend of tradition and novelty that exudes charm and precision…
Material Versatility and Craftsmanship
For projects demanding both beauty and resilience, CUIR DE LOUP DE MER steps in with the Naya® collection. This wolf fish leather is robust and fine, its semi-smooth grain adorned with delicate points and stripes, forming a unique visual character. Meanwhile, the exceptional CUIR D’ESTURGEON offered as Nova® in both MAT and BRILLANT finishes highlights a leather that sports star-shaped spicules – a feature unmatched anywhere else in the world. The Carp Leather from Dombes® echoes a more poetic touch, with an ample, almost mineral grain that dances between shadows and light, evoking the mystery of the Dombes ponds. Each material is celebrated for its individual qualities, infusing creative projects with a touch of timeless sophistication.
Eco-Friendly Innovation in Leather Craft
At its heart, the ICTYOS project is a brilliant example of eco-friendly innovation. By harnessing the potential of fish skins, which would otherwise be discarded, ICTYOS creates an entirely new category of luxury. The vegetable tanning process not only preserves traditional methods but also minimizes environmental impact. This transformation of food-industry leftovers into high-quality marine leathers brings a refreshing change, proving that sustainability and luxury can indeed go hand in hand. Each piece carries an exclusive signature, a testament to its refined provenance and the meticulous working of experienced tanneries in Lyon. This is craftsmanship reimagined for a greener future…
Creative Collaborations and Expanding Collections
The project extends its influence beyond material quality into the realm of creative collaborations. With offerings like the Studio créatif, various artistic partnerships, and a range of collections (including COLORIS COLLECTION and the COLLECTION VÉGÉTALE for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025), ICTYOS connects tradition with modern trends. Accessories such as LE PORTE-CARTES, along with GAMMES DE COULEURS, PANNEAUX DE CUIR, and DESTOCKAGE options, showcase the versatility of these materials. This wide-ranging portfolio makes it possible to cater to varied creative demands while keeping environmental responsibilities at its core. It’s all about exploring possibilities, experimenting with finishes, and celebrating a material that is as dynamic as it is refined.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Encouraging sustainable resource use through innovative reprocessing of fish skins.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Reducing waste and lowering environmental impact by transforming food industry by-products.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Fostering advanced practices in traditional leather tanning that blend heritage with modern eco-techniques.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Promoting conservation of natural resources through eco-friendly processing and sustainable practices.
Future Horizons and Artistic Inspirations
The journey of ICTYOS continues to inspire new artistic directions. With collections that span several years and an ongoing commitment to excellence, the marine leathers not only embody traditional mastery but also point toward future trends in design and sustainability. Urban designers, luxury brands, and dedicated artisans are finding that this material meets the demands of modern creativity while preserving the intrinsic narratives of its origin. The story is one of evolution, persistence, and creativity – a tale told in each texture, each grain, and every unique finish. As the project moves forward, it remains a powerful reminder of the potential hidden in nature’s by-products, waiting to be transformed into objects of beauty and enduring value…
