The Future is “Microbial Fashion”

It is estimated that approximately 350M barrels of crude oil a year are used to make synthetic textiles. Innovative companies are looking at ways to use microbial organisms to create stronger and more durable materials to help replace both leather and synthetic fabric made from fossil fuels for fashion. The microbial fashion industry is just getting started and its opportunities for growth and innovation are endless. Below are a few examples of companies and institutions leading the way:

• Modern Synthesis uses sugar from plant waste along with microbes to grow microbial sneakers and soon apparel. This idea was inspired by a program at the Imperial College London which is studying a bacteria found in kombucha, called K. Rhaeticus, which produces a material called Nanocellulose. Nanocellulose is stronger than Kevlar and its tensile stress strength is higher than that of steel.

• Modern Meadow uses bio-fabricated materials to create plant-based textiles that turn into high fashion. Designers like Tory Burch are using their Bio-Alloy™ technology to create microbial luxury handbags like the new Ella Bio tote.

• Bio Design Lab: Fashion students at the Lebanese American University are studying bio-design and are experimenting with dyes and fabrics made from mushrooms, fruit, bacteria, algae, and vegetables. One student created a breakthrough “mood fabric” made from cyanobacteria. The fibers turn dark green when someone’s body temperature rises from stress or anger or light green when they are calmer and cooler.