A fashion student is planning to make a handbag out of Alexander McQueen’s cloned skin
By Will Stroude
A London fashion student wants to create accessories out of skin cells cloned from the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Guardian columnist Jonathon Jones has questioned the ethics of the project, entitled ‘Pure Human’ – the proposal for which will be showcased by student Tina Gorjanc at a degree show at the prestigious London art school Central St Martins.
Gorjanc has filed a patent for the method that would grow cell cultures from the late designer’s DNA, extract skin cells, and tan the resulting remake of McQueen’s skin into leather for luxury goods.
Commenting on the controversial project, Jones writes: “It used to be serial killers like Ed Gein, the real life model for Alfred Hitchcock’s Norman Bates, who made themselves skin trophies. Today, there are more legitimate ways of getting hold of human skin to make art. Instead of murdering and skinning people, you can grow an epidermis in a lab. But is the resulting art any less creepy?”
According to the column, some scientists have suggested that the project is possible, despite the difficulty involved in producing enough skin to create something like a handbag.
McQueen, who was honoured with a Legend Award at last year’s Attitude Awards, took his own life in February 2010 at the age of 40.
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