Natalie Portman invests in new vegan leather made from grain
Photo: The actress is now not only advocating for an end to the use of animal leather (Getty Images)
Natalie Portman has become a strategic partner and investor in US biomaterials company UNCAGED Innovations, which is developing an alternative to animal leather. Its ELEVATE material is made primarily from plant-based raw materials, including proteins derived from grain byproducts. Portman joined a $7.9 million funding round for UNCAGED Innovations. The company aims to create a material that can replace leather in fashion, automotive, and other industries.
What the leather alternative is made from
The company uses structural proteins from grain byproducts and combines them with other biomaterials to create a fibrous structure designed to mimic the properties of collagen in natural leather. The material can be adapted in terms of thickness, texture, color, strength and flexibility.
According to UNCAGED, ELEVATE is 99% made from plant-based and natural components. The material has certifications and assessments including USDA BioPreferred, FSC Certified Materials and PETA Approved Vegan, while its environmental performance has been assessed through a life cycle analysis (LCA).
The company says that compared with traditional leather, ELEVATE can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95%, water use by 89% and energy consumption by 71%.
In 2026, the company is also moving toward scaling up the technology. In June, UNCAGED announced a partnership with European platform Substanz, which will help independent brands and designers access ELEVATE and incorporate it into production.
Technology has attracted attention from the automotive industry
The technology has already attracted attention from the automotive industry. UNCAGED previously announced a collaboration with Hyundai CRADLE to explore the use of its plant-based leather alternative in vehicles.
For Portman, the project is a continuation of her years-long work at the intersection of fashion, ethics and animal protection. The actress is now not only advocating for an end to the use of animal leather but also investing in a technology that aims to address one of the main problems with vegan leather: the reliance of many alternatives on synthetic materials.
