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Faircraft, a Paris-based pioneer in lab-grown leather, has closed a €15 million Series A funding round. The round was backed by prominent international investors, including Entrepreneur First and Blue Wire Capital from the UK, Kindred Ventures and Heirloom from the USA, Cap Horn, BPI, and Alliance for Impact in France, and Sake Bosch in the Netherlands. The funding will expand Faircraft’s team and scale production to meet the growing global demand for sustainable leather alternatives.
Founded in 2021 by Haïkel Balti and César Valencia Gallardo, Faircraft blends materials science and biology expertise to develop its multi-patented lab-grown leather. Designed to rival the quality of traditional leather, Faircraft’s innovative process allows leather to be grown at scale from small cell samples, offering a sustainable alternative without compromising on quality, durability, or aesthetic appeal.
Their 20-strong multinational team — which boasts nine PhDs — is focused on that mission. “Our objective is not to compete with traditional leather on price,” Balti explained. “Instead, we strive to deliver a material that excels in functionality, offers unparalleled sensory qualities, and consistently achieves exceptional and reliable standards of quality to make it the preferred choice.”
The result is a product that is, essentially, leather, without animal leather's environmental and ethical negatives. “The lab-grown leather process involves four key steps,” Balti explains, “cell sourcing, cell cultivation, scaffold structuring, and tanning and finishing.” In simple terms, cells are encouraged to multiply using specific structures or scaffolds before undergoing traditional treatments to ready them for use.
Lab-grown leather can even be grown for the specific use required.
“Since the process replicates natural skin,” Balti explained, “it can be customised for different styles, such as luxury, durable, or lightweight leather, catering to a wide range of applications.”
Faircraft’s production method delivers significant environmental benefits, including:
90% lower CO₂ emissions
95% reduction in waste
80% less water usage
The company also partners with master tanners, previously associated with luxury leather goods, to ensure the final product meets the high standards demanded by fashion houses.
“Lab-grown leather production is far more efficient,” Balti told us. “A single square metre of lab space can produce 100 square metres of leather, compared to extensive grazing land needed for traditional leather.” It’s also faster, with lab-grown leather’s timescales measured in weeks rather than the years spent raising cattle. Balti continued, “Our lab-grown leather significantly lessens the environmental footprint associated with traditional leather. This contributes to global climate goals and helps preserve natural ecosystems for future generations.”
Luxury brands increasingly seek materials showcasing their environmental responsibility alongside cutting-edge designs. Faircraft’s high-quality, sustainable leather has attracted interest from major fashion players, positioning the company as a leader in the eco-conscious materials revolution.
With rising concerns over the environmental and ethical impacts of traditional farming and leather production, lab-grown animal products like Faircraft’s leather are gaining traction. According to CEO Haïkel Balti, the company’s mission is to deliver a sustainable product that matches the traditional leather experience while addressing the challenges posed by industrial farming practices.
“Each year, millions of animals are slaughtered globally for their hides,” he said. “The conditions in which these animals are raised vary widely,” he added, “but they often involve significant environmental costs, including deforestation for grazing land, methane emissions, and water usage.”
However, he says Faircraft’s approach will also bring social benefits. “Faircraft supports local industries and sustains jobs, bridging innovation and heritage,” he told us. “Our process is designed to integrate seamlessly with the skills and expertise of traditional tanners and leather goods manufacturers, ensuring their craftsmanship remains central to the production process.”
By creating a product that reduces the environmental cost and ethical concerns of animal products, offers the potential of exciting customised materials for brands, and works with centuries-old industries, Balti believes that Faircraft offers an exciting product for craftspeople, brands, and consumers. “It enables the creation of unique pieces with minimal environmental impact while offering new possibilities to leather artisans and designers,” Balti explained. “This technological breakthrough is a tribute to the magic of life.”
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