Fermented Fashion

Researchers at the Bioalloy laboratories University of Western Australia have developed a way to turn alcohol into clothing. The creators have aptly named the living microbe fabric Micro'be'.
The Microb'be'/Fermented Fashion project investigates the practical and cultural biosynthesis of microbiology, exploring forms of futuristic dress-making and textile technologies.

Photo Courtesy of Bioalloy.org

The project involves a collaboration between scientist Gary Cass and artist Donna Franklin. Fermented Fashion expands upon concepts explored in their previous works.
Gary Cass was inspired to create cellulose garments when he noticed a skin-like rubbery layer covering a vat of wine that was contaminated with Acetobacter bacteria; the kind that ferment wine into vinegar. This process creates microfibers of cellulose (similar to cotton) which feels a little sludgy when wet but it dries to the consistency of cotton.
Cass worked with artist Donna Franklin to fashion the bacteria. The bacteria ferments the alcohol into a raft of microbial fibrils that float just above the surface. Once extracted the material is fashioned by pouring and wrapping around a mold or a body. The resulting material is entirely seamless. 
The Micro‘be’ material, initially fermented from red wine, has now been produced from white wine, beer and even Guinness. The different types of alcohol give a different shade to the finished fabric. Although, the smell of the bacteria is apparent even after the material has stiffened which isn't ideal for commercial usage. The creators acknowledge the flaws in their design. The fabric lacks flexibility and smells pretty alcoholic. Cass and Franklin are currently working on these issues to make the fabric more commercial, and they're optimistic about their experimentation. 

Photo Courtesy of Bioalloy.org

The fabric takes on the colour of its feedstock

Micro'be' is an eco-friendly, organic and biodegradable material. Growing our own fabric could be one of the answers to resource shortages. On another note, there's not a seamstress in sight which cuts production costs. Although the material isn't ready to have commercial use, it's ingenuity to invigorate the status quo. Besides, the research isn't over. Cass is also researching Microb’be’s potential as medical dressing or scaffolds for tissue engineering.

“Fermented fashion doesn’t need to stay within the fashion world but can inspire new thoughts in many other disciplines, such as medicine, engineering, dentistry, architecture. All one has to do is let their imagination, creativity, and ingenuity loose.” ~ Gary Cass


If you like this project, I recommend Biocouture,
and Fashion and Biomimicry.