Fashion not only travels continents, but also timelines. We often see a blend of cultures like Indian motifs on Victorian gowns, or a blend of timelines, like 90’s inspired grunge looks. But with lab-grown leather, we have travelled millions of years in the past, all the way to the Jurassic Age.
No, this leather is not made with real dinosaur skin (they are still extinct, last time we checked), but thanks to synthetic biology and a fusion of science and fashion, we might soon be able to see bags and jackets inspired by the dangerous beast itself.
Photo: unsplash.com
This truly impossible material is being built by VML (marketing and ad innovation company) Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., and The Organoid Company. So far, with all the fossils that have been found, scientists were able to show us what dinosaurs might have looked like. With all the new findings around dinosaur DNA, they went a notch up. No, they’re not planning to bring the beast back (as far as we know), they are using these fossil records with bioengineering to create leather that mimics what T-Rex hide might have felt like- probably very durable, extremely textured and unique.
This is Sustainable Fashion on Steroids
This development will probably open a new era of sustainable fashion.We have already had leather made out of mushrooms and pineapple waste successfully. This isn’t just about animal abuse, it’s also about the lower carbon footprint and fewer resources- It’s a decision that is superior in every way you can think of. But what’s the need for a T-Rex? It is branding brilliance that has potential to enter the high fashion world.
Potential uses
The potential is real and not just a gimmicky experiment:
- Luxury accessories- premium watch straps, belts and bags that have a pre-historic element will be a collector’s dream.
- Footwear and car interiors
- Collectibles and art pieces- A collectors paradise
VML has indicated that the world will be able to see this T-Rex inspired material as early as 2026.
