A method for decorating a natural leather comprising the following steps: a) holding by vacuum suction the natural leather with its corium side to an air-permeable support onto a vacuum support of an inkjet printer; and b) inkjet printing a decorative image on the natural leather wherein the air-permeable support is partly covered by said natural leather. The air-permeable support comprises a fibrous layer in contact with the corium side of the natural leather.

A method for decorating a natural leather comprising the following steps: a) holding by vacuum suction the natural leather with its corium side to an air-permeable support onto a vacuum support of an inkjet printer; and b) inkjet printing a decorative image on the natural leather wherein the air-permeable support is partly covered by said natural leather. The air-permeable support comprises a fibrous layer in contact with the corium side of the natural leather.

A manufacturing method of decorated natural leather includes applying a base coat on crusted leather, inkjet printing a decorative image on the base coat using one or more pigmented inkjet inks, and applying one or more identification codes.

The present disclosure provides a collagen-infused composite material comprising an optionally functionalized armature including a base substrate and one or more and non-woven substrates. The non-woven substrate(s) can be directly coupled to a topmost surface and/or bottommost surface of the base substrate. The material properties and/or collagen infusion capacities of the base substrate and the non-woven substrate(s) can be tailored to create a collagen-infused composite material with characteristics that mimic those of a natural leather. In some embodiments, the base substrate can be spacer fabric. In some embodiments, the armature can be functionalized to facilitate the crosslinking the collagen to the armature during one or more tanning processes.

The invention is directed to a composite material comprising a biofabricated material and a secondary component. The secondary component may be a porous material, such as a sheet of paper, cellulose, or fabric that has been coated or otherwise contacted with the biofabricated material. The biofabricated material comprises a uniform network of crosslinked collagen fibrilsand provides strength, elasticity and an aesthetic appearance to the composite material.

The invention is directed to a composite material comprising a biofabricated material and a secondary component. The secondary component may be a porous material, such as a sheet of paper, cellulose, or fabric that has been coated or otherwise contacted with the biofabricated material. The biofabricated material comprises a uniform network of crosslinked collagen fibrilsand provides strength, elasticity and an aesthetic appearance to the composite material.

A biofabricated material comprising a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils produced from recombinant collagen that contains substantially no 3-hydroxyproline residues is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A biofabricated material comprising a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils produced from recombinant collagen that contains substantially no 3-hydroxyproline residues is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

Method of decorating natural leather with an inkjet printer which comprises:—a first vacuum belt (150) for conveying an unwoven fabric (200) which is configured as a second vacuum belt, for conveying under an inkjet print head (505) a natural leather (300); and wherein the method comprises:—applying from an adhesive tape-roll an adhesive tape (1300) as a continuous sheet against the unwoven fabric wherein said adhesive tape (1300) has an adhesive side and opposite side and the opposite side is in contact with the unwoven fabric;—applying a natural leather (300) on the adhesive side of the adhesive tape (1300);—conveying the applied natural leather by moving the first vacuum belt (150) whereby the unwoven fabric (200) is moving by suction power through the first vacuum belt (150) and the applied adhesive tape (1300) is moving by said suction power through said unwoven fabric (200) under an inkjet print head (505);—marking the applied natural leather with jetted droplets of the inkjet print head (505) for decorating said natural leather while the adhesive tape (1300) is attached to the unwoven fabric (200).

A manufacturing method of decorated natural leather including the steps of: attaching a crusted leather (45) with its corium side by an adhesive (46) to a temporary carrier (47); inkjet printing the crusted leather (45) on its grain side with one or more pigmented inkjet inks; wherein the surface area of the temporary carrier (47) is larger than the surface area of the crusted leather (45).