Amsterdam, April 25, 2025 — VML, The Organoid Company, and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. have announced a new partnership to develop what they claim is the world’s first leather material engineered using DNA from the Tyrannosaurus rex. The collaboration brings together expertise from creative agency VML, synthetic biology firm The Organoid Company, and tissue engineering specialists Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., with the aim of producing a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather.

The new material will be developed using fossilized T-Rex collagen as a reference. Scientists from The Organoid Company will design synthetic DNA sequences which are then integrated into Lab-Grown Leather’s production platform. Unlike other bio-based materials, the approach does not rely on scaffolds; instead, the engineered cells generate their own natural structure, resulting in a product that mimics the composition and performance of animal leather.

According to the companies, this material is not just an experiment in novelty but a response to rising concerns over the environmental and ethical costs of leather production. Traditional tanning processes often involve harmful chemicals and are associated with deforestation, while the new lab-grown method eliminates the need for animal-derived inputs and reduces pollution.

The project is positioned as a scientific and cultural exploration of ancient biology, with the T-Rex chosen not only for its symbolic weight but also for its evolutionary traits, developed in extreme prehistoric environments—conditions that are once again becoming relevant in the face of climate change.

Initial commercial applications will be focused on fashion accessories, with a product expected by the end of 2025. The longer-term goal is to scale production and expand into other industries such as automotive. The material is designed to be biodegradable while maintaining the durability and tactile qualities expected from premium leather.

Executives from all three companies described the collaboration as a step toward redefining the future of materials by merging synthetic biology with design and sustainability.