AWARD YEAR
2023
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Responsible Consumption & Production, Life On Land
KEYWORDS
soil health, biodegradability, circular fashion
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
Yongfan Lu, MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins
WEBSITE
https://yongfanlu.wixsite.com/mysite/projects-7
SOIL•BIORI•ASHION
Garment made from casein bioplastic and living mycelium that bioremediates soil quality.
How does it work?
At the end of the product's lifespan, the garment will return to the soil and restore it by a combination of compostable nutrients and mycoremediation, a process where living mycelium protect soil microbes and clean petroleum contaminants.
The textile design uses weaving and pleating, threadless linking, laser-cutting on fabric, and mycelium-casein pyramids with hand stitching.
Why is it needed?
The current fashion industry is contributing to a decline in soil health in a variety of ways, specifically by discarding synthetic, non-degradable materials into landfill. The soil will gradually lose its bioremediation ability until it becomes barren, meaning that there will be less land for crops and grazing.
How does it improve life?
This project aims to reduce fashion waste and improve the carbon-nitrogen ratio in the soil while utilizing mycoremediation of living mycelium to clean petroleum contaminants.