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Innovative project explores ancient biomaterials for modern applications and promises to unite science, fashion and historical preservation
Fashion is about to undergo an unusual transformation. While many try to anticipate the next trends, a new proposal is aiming to go back in time around 70 million years. A company has announced plans to create the first leather T.Rex of the world, using genetic engineering and laboratory-grown tissues.
The project involves a collaboration between The Organoid Company, Lab-Grown Leather Ltd and the creative agency VML.
The leather will be developed in Newcastle and promises to unite creative innovation, genomic engineering and advances in tissue engineering.
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The Science Behind T.Rex Leather
The initiative is based on a fragment of collagen extracted from a T. Rex fossil found in 1988 in Montana, one of the most complete specimens of the time and which still contained preserved blood proteins.
From this fragment, experts will work to artificially recreate the dinosaur's complete collagen sequence.
Once the genetic sequence is reconstructed, it will be incorporated into leather cells grown in the laboratory.
The goal is to grow a dense network of collagen, similar to the middle layer of skin, thus creating T.Rex leather.
Thomas Mitchell, CEO of The Organoid Company, highlighted the potential of the technology: “This project is a remarkable example of how we can leverage cutting-edge genome and protein engineering to create entirely new materials.. "
Bas Korsten, Global Creative Director at VML, added: “With T.Rex leather, we are harnessing the biology of the past to create the luxury materials of the future."
Sustainability and environmental responsibility
In addition to innovating in design, the team believes that T.Rex leather can have positive impacts on the environment.
Traditional leather production is associated with practices such as deforestation and pollution from harmful chemicals such as chromium.
The new technology allows the creation of cruelty-free leather, with processes that avoid the use of pollutants and drastically reduce environmental damage. According to the scientists involved, the material will be completely biodegradable, while maintaining the durability and repairability of conventional leather.
"By eliminating animal suffering and reducing environmental impacts, we offer a sustainable and traceable alternative for consumers for generations to come.“, explained the team.
First applications and expansion into new sectors
Initially, T.Rex leather production will be directed towards luxury accessories. The expectation is to launch the first commercial product by the end of 2025. Bags, jackets and other fashion items can be developed with the material.
However, the plans don’t stop there. After the proof-of-concept phase, the team plans to expand production to other sectors, including the automotive industry, where T.Rex leather could be used in the interiors of high-end vehicles.
Professor Che Connon of Lab-Grown Leather said: “We are unlocking the potential to create leather from prehistoric species, starting with the formidable T. Rex. This venture showcases the power of cell-based technology to create materials that are both innovative and ethically sound.”
Prehistoric technology is already inspiring other projects
The use of biotechnology to recreate materials from extinct species is not entirely new. In 2023, an Australian cultured meat company managed to create a meatball from mammoth meat, also using genetic engineering techniques.
To produce the delicacy, scientists reconstructed the DNA sequence of a mammoth muscle protein and filled in gaps with the genetic code of the elephant, its closest relative. The sequence was inserted into sheep stem cells, which multiplied until the meat was formed.
Although they expected the meat to be tasty, experts preferred not to consume it, for fear that the ancient protein could cause unwanted effects.
Future impact on the luxury market
The T.Rex leather project combines cutting-edge science with a new proposal for the luxury market.
The promise is exclusive, sustainable and cruelty-free materials that can meet the needs of a generation of consumers increasingly concerned with environmental responsibility and technological innovation.
With prehistoric leather being developed in a laboratory and the first products expected by 2025, the fashion market and other high-value sectors are already starting to closely observe this transformation that mixes past and future.
Fashion, which is always seeking innovation, may soon present shows and products that literally come from the age of the dinosaurs.
