A handbag made from a biocomposite derived from Tyrannosaurus rex collagen will be auctioned in Paris on June 11, 2024 [1, 7].
The project represents a fusion of biotechnology and high fashion, demonstrating how ancient organic materials can be repurposed into luxury goods. By utilizing lab-grown materials based on prehistoric proteins, the creators aim to showcase the potential of biotech fashion to a global audience.
Scientists collaborated with the Polish fashion brand Enfin Levé to develop the material [1]. The bag was crafted using a biocomposite created from traces of collagen extracted from a T. rex femur [1]. While some reports cite the material as 66 million years old [2], other sources said the femur is 67 million years old [1].
The auction will take place at a hotel venue in Paris, France [1, 4]. Price estimates for the novelty item vary across reports. AFP said the bag will fetch between €300,000 and €500,000 [3]. Other reports said the final price could reach as high as $800,000 [5] or $600,000 [6].
This biocomposite approach allows the brand to create a product that mimics leather without requiring a complete prehistoric hide, which would be impossible to find intact. The result is a piece of wearable science intended to appeal to luxury collectors and fans of the Jurassic era [1, 8].
Despite the novelty, the authenticity of the material has faced some scrutiny. Some critics have questioned the process of using supposed T. rex DNA to grow the hide [11], though the primary developers said they used collagen traces from a verified femur [1].
“The world’s first handbag made from a biocomposite derived from T. rex collagen.”
This auction highlights a growing trend in 'bio-couture,' where synthetic biology is used to create materials that were previously impossible to source. While the T. rex bag is a novelty piece, the underlying technology of using collagen-based biocomposites could eventually lead to sustainable, lab-grown alternatives to traditional animal leathers in the wider fashion industry.
