Six organic fabrics every sustainable fashion designer should...
Transcript of Six organic fabrics every sustainable fashion designer should...
Six organic fabrics every sustainable fashion designer should use
Eco-Friendly Rubber from Algae
Algae can be used to replace textiles and rubber with great (cheap) success.
The primary usage of algae in fashion is
to create eco-friendly and
sustainable rubber, that can be used in
footwear or footwear elements.
BLOOM Foam is a great example; as a brand that has launched the world’s
first algae blended EVA, their unique foam-like material is now used by
Yeezy in his latest footwear Collection
Cruelty-Free Leather From Pineapple Leaves
Pinatex is a new word form from ‘Pina’ the Spanish word for pineapple and ‘Tex’ which refers to the texture of pina
fibres.
Before Pinatex, pineapple leaves were considered rubbish and discarded.
Philippines, Brazil, and Hawaii were throwing away millions
of tones each year.
Thanks to Pinatex innovation, these materials have gained a
new life.
As a designer, you can use it as cruelty-free (vegan) leather alternative in your fashion
creations, looking good while saving the environment, both
at the same time.
The benefits of using the leaves of the pineapple rescued from waste and
turned into resources that fashion brands are too many to
mention.
Vegan Fur Made From Seaweed
Another fantastic material that’s making recent waves is Koba
Koba is an innovative type of animal-free fur made from kelp seaweed.
The innovation follows on the steps of ECOPEL,
the very first bio-based fur company that has made vegan fur to be used in the manufacturing of apparel.
Right now there are more than 300 leading fashion houses using Koba fur in replacement to real fur obtained from wild animals
Animal-Free Wool From Coconut Husks
Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard shell and the outer coat of a coconut.
As a natural fibre, coir is used in simple products such as floor mats, ropes, doormats, brushes and mattresses
However, after recent data has shown that when used as an animal-free alternative to wool, Coir could save over 450,000 tons of carbon emissions on an annual basis.
Recent innovations have improved Coir to the point of being used as a wool replacement in fashion and apparel products.
Moreover, if blended with other materials, the coconut fabric adds drying fast and odours absorbent properties.
That makes this material excellent for fitness gear, as it keeps the wearer cool and it offers UV protection.
Organic Cotton from Milk Protein
Casein, a milk by-product. is emerging as a new type of sustainable material.
Right now, casein is used with preponderance in the fitness industry.
However, making fabrics from milk is not a new technology.
The modern milk-based fabric has a comfortable texture, looks like cotton, and it is very healthy for your skin.
German fashion designer named Anke Domaske had created Qmilch –world’s first casein fibre made without chemicals – the milk-based thread got recognised as a natural, organic, and eco-friendly material
Cruelty-free Silk From Banana Stem
Banana is one of the most known
and loved fruits all over the world.
But, apart from being loved for its edible part, this is loved for its stems
(abaca) as well.
It is said that roughly one billion
tons of banana stems are
discarded every year.
Finally, some researchers have found a way to
take these wasted stems and put
them to good use – Abaca for
fashion.
The conversion process requires
around 35 kilograms of
stems.
In the end, about one kilogram of super-soft fibre results, ready to be turned into
textiles.
Abaca-based fabrics are suitable
for both humans and the
environment.