Yesterday I attended the Textiles Future Research Centre PhD showcase, where a handful of their current PhD students based in UAL talked about their work.
One student that stood out to me in particular was Marin Sawa, who's work-in-progress title is;
Interweaving Algal Biotechnology with Sustainable Urban Living - How can intersection of textile and architectural design with algal biotechnology generate new applications in urban environment.
In my previous Flex project i played and attempted to grow strains of bioluminescent algae, the idea of using a natural growth that can create light which could then be incorporated into pouches, fabric or textiles interested me, most likely reminiscent of Hussein Chalayan's light dresses in A/W07.
Marin began by observing their use of photosynthesis, using natural light for potential colour change, manipulating an environmentally clean material for possible future energy sources. She has been focusing on cultivating algae towards textiles, one of the few industries yet to use this colourful natural bacteria.
Her current aim is to cultivate the algae to create algal textile printing, instead of traditional screen-printing using natural controlled algae which will be digitally printed and most likely have an effect similar to flocking. She is still working on perfecting the printing outcomes but the examples shown had so much potential. The idea that this could be used in industry cleanly and safely, instead of the toxic chemicals currently used in almost every kind of textile printing is a huge step.
Not only did I love her theories and ideas for this project, but her press images are beautiful. Theres nothing I like more than a well styled, photographed and packaged project.
Her work is currently on show in Paris at Espace Fondation EDF, link here
