At the Future Fabrics Expo in London, the company 3D Bio-Tissues (3DBT) demonstrated a revolutionary material: laboratory-grown skin.

According to the developers, this skin is structurally and genetically identical to traditional leather, but it is produced without the use of animals. Only cells taken from an adult female horse in a painless and ethical way are used to create the material. Within six weeks, the skin structure is grown from these cells in the laboratory, without requiring any additional materials such as plastic or cellulose.

3DBT claims that laboratory leather has a number of advantages over traditional "farm" leather.

• Firstly, the production process does not require steps such as degreasing, which reduces the amount of waste.

• Secondly, laboratory leather is devoid of imperfections and inconsistencies that are often found in natural leather.

The development was carried out in collaboration with the University of Northampton and was funded by UK Research and Innovations (UKRI) through Innovate UK. Professor Will Wise from the University of Northampton said: "This project has huge potential. It will allow us to better understand the structure of collagen and develop new biomaterials for commercial use. We are pleased to be a part of this project and to work closely with 3DBT."

Dr. Emily Telford, Senior Researcher at 3DBT, added: "We are very pleased to combine our innovative developments in the field of bioengineered skin with the experience of the University of Northampton in traditional skin treatment methods. We believe that this technology will meet the growing demand for both conventional and alternative leather products, moving towards a more sustainable future."

This development marks a new stage in the fashion industry. Laboratory leather can become an ethical and eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather, opening up new opportunities for designers and consumers.

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