
Advertisement
OK, if we suspend our cynicism for a second and take their claims at face value – which is probably A Bad Idea, given that's what The Daily Mail did—then this is actually a pretty shitty thing to happen. However well intentioned the PETA activists were, all the very expensive biocustomized stingrays have surely been swallowed up by now, given that most marine predators are used to hunting less conspicuous prey than those floating around the sea in natty pink leopard print.I don't know why I'm taking this seriously, there's literally no fucking way these shoes can be real, right? I gave the CEO a chance to convince me he wasn't full of shit.VICE: Hey man, how did this whole sorry mess start?
Raymond Ong: My grandfather was a fisherman and my family have been in the business of using stingray leather to make footwear for decades. It is very common in Thailand that all parts of the fish are used, not only the edible parts. Stingray leather is very durable and strong. I spoke at a conference last year where I discussed the development.
Advertisement
Bio-engineering is what I studied and have been working in previously, but my family has a background in using stingray leather to make footwear.Wow, seems like you were destined to bio-engineer stingray shoes. What was the scientific breakthrough?
In 2010, we managed to breed the first fish with the visual pattern of a rattlesnake. Soon after that, we had the whole code cracked. You can read about the process at our website.

Sure. As we are merely tweaking the normal patterning process in the animal, we cannot make everything. Square forms, logos or letters are for instance, not possible. It is all done with synthetic genes to replicate the patterns of real animals.Why only shoes and not other items?
Because shoe-making is in my family, and there is a pre-existing culture of personalization in sneakers that I felt we would have a part in.It sounds like a hugely expensive process. Where does the money come from?
Asian venture capital. I cannot go into details on this as the investors are shocked by the recent events.Ah, the break in. I'm sorry to hear about that. Knowing your stingrays, what do you think their fate will be?
We haven't been able to find any of them, nor heard from them so far. The ocean is a big place. I'm very upset about it.
Advertisement
We are currently in discussions with our investors. I hope to return stronger than ever.

I would absolutely not know how to do it. You would not get the same quality of leather either. I actually think it enriches the product to know an animal lived and died for you. Our process is entirely transparent. Please note, though, that we were raising our stingrays in the best, most humane conditions.Some people suggest that this is just plain stingray skin but dyed, why would you choose such an expensive process instead?
Call me romantic, but I think it has a completely different meaning. Also the leather will feel and look different. I noticed there are also some copycats on the market that dye stingray leather and call it biocustomization.Dicks.

Advertisement
