Fringe Mini: Deja-Moo; Same Cow, New Leather

Journey to the Fringe · Dec 10, 2025 · 10m · transcript

This week, we find some good news in a surprising place: the fashion industry! We discuss the groundbreaking cultivated leather created by a North Carolina startup, featuring their star, a very much alive sanctuary cow named Angel. Biomedical engineer George Engelmeier grows real collagen from Angel's harmlessly-sampled skin cells on plant-based scaffolds, creating luxury leather goods like wallets and jewelry without the need for slaughter, toxic tanning chemicals, or heavy environmental impact. The discussion centers on whether this new, cruelty-free material—which dramatically reduces…