This Cruelty-Free Alternative to Leather is Made with Plant-Based Fibers
Laura McQuarrie — April 30, 2016 — Tech
References: news.iastate.edu & vegnews
A rise in healthy living has brought beverages like kombucha into the spotlight—and now, it is being put to use as an alternative to leather.
Researchers at Iowa State University have succeeded in creating a plant-based leather from kombucha by growing cellulose fibers in the lab from leftover kombucha tea, vinegar and sugar. Kombucha is known as a drink that's rich in probiotics, but in this case, the bacteria is harvested and dried in order to create an authentic leather texture.
Many fashion designers are now making use of unconventional materials in order to reinvent familiar product forms. Other examples similar to this alternative textile include sneakers that are made from ocean trash and accessories made from fruit-based leather.
Researchers at Iowa State University have succeeded in creating a plant-based leather from kombucha by growing cellulose fibers in the lab from leftover kombucha tea, vinegar and sugar. Kombucha is known as a drink that's rich in probiotics, but in this case, the bacteria is harvested and dried in order to create an authentic leather texture.
Many fashion designers are now making use of unconventional materials in order to reinvent familiar product forms. Other examples similar to this alternative textile include sneakers that are made from ocean trash and accessories made from fruit-based leather.
Trend Themes
1. Plant-based Leather - The rise of kombucha-based textiles presents an opportunity for businesses to explore plant-based alternatives to traditional leather products.
2. Sustainable Fashion - The use of unconventional materials like kombucha-based textiles opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the fashion industry, promoting sustainability and reducing reliance on animal-based products.
3. Biofabrication - The development of kombucha-based textiles highlights the potential for biofabrication techniques and the creation of new materials through sustainable and eco-friendly means.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion brands can tap into the trend of kombucha-based textiles to create cruelty-free and sustainable clothing, accessories, and footwear.
2. Textile Manufacturing - The textile manufacturing industry can explore the production of kombucha-based fibers as a disruptive innovation that offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional textiles.
3. Biotechnology - The kombucha-based textile trend presents opportunities for the biotechnology industry to advance biofabrication techniques and develop sustainable materials for various applications.
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