It is not easy to have leather clothes without animals (and without cruelty, waste of land and water). Yet it is worth saving resources and living beings: this is why research is engineering yeasts to produce collagen proteins during fermentation. It happens to Modern Meadow, one of the most advanced New Jersey companies in the field.
Once fermented, the “yeast-skin” gets a good cleaning and here is a bit of “tissue” ready. which can closely resemble animal skin: it can be sewn and tanned, it can be used to make a nice nail studded and vegan.
It will be necessary to refine the research, of course: dozens and dozens of attempts and cross-references are allowing to the scientists to produce thicker or thinner “fabrics”, with different textile resistances depending on the destination (clothing, upholstery and others).
There's still a little while to go pull out something durable, malleable, beautiful and convenient, but there is so much interest in this challenge that intersects biology, design, fashion and respect for animals and the nature.
