Suzanne Lee of BioCouture explains how to make clothes from bacteria

Summary

Suzanne Lee, founder of BioCouture, discusses the future of living materials at Wearable Futures. She explores using microbes like bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae to grow materials such as bacterial cellulose, a compostable fabric similar to leather. Her work involves growing garments through a fermentation process, with a recent project showcasing a laser-cut skirt at Selfridges in London. Lee envisions a future where materials remain alive and interact with the body, contributing to well-being by creating a symbiotic relationship between the garment and its wearer.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🔬 Suzanne Lee is the founder of a company focused on creating living materials.
• 🧬 Living materials involve using organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae to grow fibers.
• 👗 Suzanne's Biocouture project grew garments using bacteria to form fibers, not traditional plants.
• 🧪 The fermentation method uses a symbiotic mix of yeast and bacteria to grow bacterial cellulose, creating a 'vegetable leather.'
• ♻️ The bacterial cellulose is compostable, making it a sustainable material that can decompose like vegetable peelings.
• 🛍️ A new project at Selfridges in London features a skirt grown using this method and laser-cut for the first time.
• 💡 The current process involves growing materials with living organisms, but the organism is killed after material creation.
• 🔮 Suzanne envisions a future where materials remain living and interact with the wearer's body, potentially contributing to health and well-being.
• 🌿 The concept hints at materials that could diagnose, treat, or nourish the body while being worn.
• 🌍 Living materials represent an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fabrics, promoting sustainability in the fashion industry.

Q & A

Who is Suzanne Lee?

Suzanne Lee is the founder of 'Biofabricate' and she is discussing the future of living materials at Wearable Futures.

What is 'Biofabricate' focused on?

'Biofabricate' is a consultancy interested in the emerging landscape of living materials, which involves using organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae to grow materials.

What are living materials, according to Suzanne Lee?

Living materials are materials grown using living organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae, instead of being manufactured or extracted from traditional sources.

How does Suzanne Lee describe the potential of microbes in material production?

Suzanne Lee describes microbes as potential factories of the future, suggesting that they can be used to grow materials through a fermentation model, creating fibers in a vat of liquid.

What is the significance of the fermentation model for growing materials?

The fermentation model allows the growth of bacterial cellulose, which can be used as a material similar to vegetable leather. It is significant because it provides an environmentally friendly, compostable alternative to traditional materials.

What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable materials?

Compostable materials, like the ones grown by Suzanne Lee, can be broken down entirely into natural elements that enrich the soil, whereas biodegradable materials simply break down over time, but not necessarily into beneficial components.

What project is Suzanne Lee working on with Selfridges?

Suzanne Lee is working on a project with Selfridges in London to grow a skirt, which will be the first one they have laser-cut and will showcase techniques developed in the lab.

What does Suzanne Lee envision for the future of living materials?

Suzanne Lee envisions a future where materials remain living while being worn, creating a direct relationship with the wearer's body, potentially contributing to well-being by diagnosing, treating, or nourishing the body surface.

What organisms are mentioned as potential sources for growing materials?

The organisms mentioned as potential sources for growing materials are bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae.

How could living materials contribute to a person's well-being?

Living materials could contribute to a person's well-being by interacting with the body, possibly diagnosing health issues, treating conditions, or nourishing the skin as part of a healthy microbiome.