BioCouture

BioCouture is a research project harnessing nature to propose a radical future fashion vision. 

Suzanne Lee, the project's Director is a Senior Research Fellow at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She is collaborating with scientists to unite design with cutting edge bio and nano-technologies.

The concept for Biocouture arose from a chance conversation between Suzanne Lee and Dr David Hepworth, a biologist and materials scientist.  To cut to the headline, the outcome is a process that, in essence, uses Green Tea to make material for garments.

The technical process involves introducing specific bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms  to a vat of, temperature controlled, sugary green tea.  The bacteria will feed on the sugar and spin fine threads of cellulose.  These threads begin to stick together and, in so doing, form a dense skin on the surface of the liquid.


After two to three weeks the skin will have developed to be approximately 1.5cm thick and it is at this point the substance is removed from its growth bath.  The material can be molded wet onto a 3D form or it can be dried flat and then cut and sewn into a garment.

The Green Tea material has some evident benefits; it doesn't exploit plants or petrochemicals in its production.  It is similar in texture to vegetable leather and can be disposed of on the compost heap.  It is super absorbent and so requires minimal amounts of dye if coloured.  The drawback to these absorbent qualities though is that the material is currently unstable and will disintegrate when exposed to sweat or rain.

Bomber Jacket

Biker Jacket

The next crucial stage in the development process of the BioCouture fabric is to try and make it water resistant and so more stable than it is at present.  

"With so many environmental concerns related to the production, consumption and disposal of
fashion textiles BioCouture is pioneering a new eco-friendly and sustainable alternative. The
future scale up of this material would also seek to use waste streams, for example from the food
or drinks industry, to fuel the microbial-cellulose production.


What started as a fashion project has now evolved into a biomaterials project – we are only just
beginning to imagine what other uses there might be for this material."  Suzanne Lee



http://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_lee_grow_your_own_clothes.html