In a bid to build a sustainable and ethical future for the luxury materials industry, three companies have joined forces to create the world’s first T-Rex leather handbag.
Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years, but thanks to cutting-edge technology and genetic research, humankind has apparently become able to use T-Rex DNA to create synthetic, lab-grown dinosaur leather. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Creative agency VML has joined forces with genomic engineering startup The Organoid Company and biotechnology innovators Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. to produce a high-quality alternative to traditional leather that is both cruelty-free and sustainable. Using a protein found in a Tyrannosaurus fossil from about 80 million years ago as inspiration, The Organoid Company and Lab-Grown Leather have been able to synthesize a next-generation material that features the durability and repairability of T-Rex skin.
Using the structure of the aforementioned collagen protein as a guide, researchers designed a synthetic gene (DNA) to be inserted into cells and used this to artificially grow a “skin-like structure” that would form the middle layer of leather. Rather than recreate T-Rex skin based on its DNA, the companies involved in this unique project focused on creating a “new biotechnology material inspired by dinosaur-derived protein structures.”
“Our proprietary advanced tissue engineering platform has once again proven its versatility. By collaborating with VML and The Organoid Company, we’re unlocking the potential to engineer leather from prehistoric species, starting with the formidable T-Rex,” Lab-Grown Ltd.’s Prof. Che Connon said. This venture showcases the power of cell-based technology to create materials that are both innovative and ethically sound.”
Lab-Grown Leather’s “scaffolding-free” method of developing artificial leather allows it to produce a material that is as close as possible to natural leather in appearance and texture, without using any chemical additives or artificial materials. Lab-grown T-Rex leather requires no livestock or chemicals and is produced in a completely controlled environment, making it more sustainable.
The world’s first T-Rex leather handbag should be available later this year, but no details on pricing have been released at the time of this writing. But, considering that this is a cutting-edge luxury product, we should probably expect a spicy price tag.
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