Products made with conventional leather raise concerns for several reasons. Animal rights groups are concerned about the treatment of animals. A lot of material is wasted in the leather-making process. Leather is also treated in tanneries, which often use harmful chemicals.
Stella McCartney was a pioneer in the vegan leather movement, and other luxury designers have followed suit. Jackets and handbags made with vegan materials rival leather in terms of softness, quality, and style.
Modern Meadow, a sustainability startup, has devised a way to produce genuine leather without harming any animals. The company has developed a technique called “biofabrication” that uses a biopsy from one cow to replicate its skin in a lab. The process can be repeated over and over to produce as much leather as needed, and no animals are harmed in the process. In theory, an unlimited amount of leather could be produced from cells taken from one cow.
The leather can be manipulated to suit a designer’s needs. For example, it can be modified to be thicker, thinner, or stronger. The leather can be adjusted for softness, breathability, and durability. Electronics can even be woven through the material. The leather can be grown directly around a 3D shape to create a product without seams, such as a handbag, car seat, or glove. Since the technique is very difficult to counterfeit, this can make it easier to prove a product’s authenticity.
Modern Meadow’s goal is to provide consumers with products that are sustainable, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free. The company received $10 million in funding in 2014. It is in the midst of discussions with fashion designers about providing its lab-grown leather for some of their upcoming collections.
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