A few months ago, when the American genetic engineering firm Colossal Biosciences claimed to have successfully “de-extincted” the legendary Dire Wolf — a species that vanished 10,000 years ago — the scientific community raised more than a few eyebrows. Many saw the announcement less as a breakthrough in genetics and more as a cleverly packaged marketing stunt. Amid this ethical standstill between reality and sci-fi speculation over the power of gene editing, few would have imagined that the next frontier of biomaterial experimentation for luxury fashion and design would emerge from that same space, specifically, from the skin of a dinosaur: the Tyrannosaurus rex.
In a time where traditional leather is increasingly scrutinized for ethical and environmental reasons, the idea of a bioengineered material — synthetic, yet 66 million years old — has captured the imagination of researchers and bioengineers at The Organoid Company and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. Together with creative agency VML, they’re working to create the first cruelty-free, biodegradable handbag made from lab-grown leather derived from fossilized T-Rex remains. According to VML, this “Jurassic” material would be highly performant, offering the same durability, repairability, and tactile qualities expected from premium leather.
This blend of prehistoric biology and near-futuristic innovation aims to revolutionise the luxury materials industry by using T-Rex fossil collagen as the foundation for a material virtually indistinguishable from traditional leather, but with no animals harmed and no toxic chemicals involved. The goal, researchers say, is to provide an ethical and environmentally responsible alternative for both the fashion and automotive industries.
Still, the initiative has already sparked reactions reminiscent of the “Dire Wolf” dilemma, with skeptics dismissing it as yet another misleading marketing move dressed up in scientific jargon. According to some experts, once again, a compelling narrative may be masking a profit-driven strategy — using dinosaurs as a branding tool to tap into a collective Jurassic Park-fueled imagination. Whether T-Rex bioengineered leather becomes the next big thing remains to be seen.
Opening image: Courtesy Vml