Qorium, a Netherlands-based developer of laboratory-grown leather, has rebranded as Reyva as the company prepares to move towards commercial expansion. The new identity reflects its ambition to establish itself as a global materials brand serving the premium and luxury leather markets.
The transition marks a new phase for the business as it works to bring its alternative leather manufacturing platform to a wider commercial audience. Reyva aims to offer a material that combines the aesthetic and functional characteristics of conventional leather with a production process designed to reduce dependence on animal agriculture.
Unlike traditional leather manufacturing, which relies on animal hides, Reyva uses a proprietary process to cultivate collagen directly from animal cells. The resulting collagen is formed into consistent sheets before undergoing tanning and finishing processes similar to those used in conventional leather production.
According to the company, the material is designed to retain important leather properties, including strength, breathability and durability, without requiring animal rearing or slaughter. The manufacturing approach is also intended to reduce waste and lower water and energy consumption compared with conventional leather production.
Reyva CEO Michael Newton said: “Reyva reflects the company we have become: ambitious, design-led and ready to stand alongside the world’s leading material brands.
“Our science gives us a fundamentally new way to make real leather. Our next chapter is about turning that capability into a material that designers and manufacturers choose for its beauty, consistency and performance, as well as its sustainability credentials.”
Cell-based process enables controlled leather production
The company’s manufacturing platform begins with a small animal biopsy, from which selected cells are collected and preserved in cell banks. These cells are subsequently multiplied and cultivated in specialised bioreactors operated by the company to generate sheets of collagen.
Once produced, the collagen sheets can be processed using established leather industry techniques, including tanning and finishing. This combination of biotechnology and conventional processing methods is intended to make the resulting material suitable for applications requiring familiar leather characteristics.
Reyva says its lab-grown leather technology provides greater control over material thickness, structure and consistency. By producing collagen under controlled conditions, the company aims to overcome some of the limitations associated with natural hides, particularly variations in quality and material wastage.
The process is currently being scaled up at Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus in the Netherlands, where Reyva is working to industrialise its production platform. The company is also collaborating with selected partners in the automotive and luxury fashion industries to prepare for future commercial applications.
Commercial expansion remains the next priority
Reyva’s immediate focus is on increasing manufacturing capacity and establishing the production capabilities required to serve commercial customers. However, the company has indicated that initial material availability will remain limited as it gradually expands output.
The transition from laboratory development to industrial-scale manufacturing represents an important milestone for the business. Success will depend on its ability to deliver consistent material quality, meet the technical requirements of luxury and automotive manufacturers, and establish production economics that support wider adoption.
Reyva co-founder and chief science officer Dr Mark Post said: “By cultivating collagen in a controlled environment, we can preserve the qualities people value in leather while introducing a new level of precision, consistency and resource efficiency.”
With its rebranding and industrialisation efforts, Reyva is positioning lab-grown leather technology as a potential addition to the materials available to luxury fashion and automotive manufacturers. Its progress towards commercial-scale production will be an important indicator of how cell-cultivated materials can develop within the wider leather industry.
