The cellulose produced by bacteria is being used by engineers to create shoes.
A research team from Imperial College London has discovered a method to genetically modify a bacterial cellulose strain that can be woven into wearable materials, marking a turn towards sustainable fashion.
By now, most of you are undoubtedly aware of the problems the fashion industry poses to the environment: the large amounts of water it uses, the low-quality materials it uses, and the quantity of clothes that ends up in landfills.
It is important to note that a growing number of businesses are proactively minimizing the environmental damage that comes with producing apparel. Many are eschewing the usage of animal products; some have integrated choices for secondhand shopping into their websites, while others provide recycling services.
Would you trust me if I told you that bacterial cellulose apparel would soon be available at a shop near you? Imperial College London researchers have discovered a means to do this. Through the genetic engineering of cellulose, they managed to produce a vessel that resembled a shoe.
Bacterial cellulose has the advantage of being a vegan substitute for animal leather. The amount of water, land, and carbon emissions associated with bacterial cellulose is negligible as compared to that of animal leather. Furthermore, this substance may biodegrade in the environment really fast.
The Komagataeibacter rhaeticus cellulose that the researchers used produces a dark black tint and a self-pigmenting bacterial strain. Compared to the synthetic dying process, which may be hazardous and environmentally damaging in addition to using a lot of resources, this is a huge advantage.
The bacterial cellulose shoe-like vessel took around two weeks to create. To get the bacteria to grow over a shoe-shaped mold, the researchers first genetically altered the cellulose. After it was done, they put the material in a machine that was set to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which caused the bacteria to self-pigment. A prefabricated sole was affixed to the finished item.
The scientists are optimistic that the bacterial cellulose-made shoes may be produced on an industrial scale, perhaps leading to the emergence of a new textile class. Since they are concerned with the amount of water required to engineer the bacterial cellulose, further testing would be required to test the color fastness, the ability of a cloth or dyed material to hold onto its color under different environmental circumstances or stress levels, as well as the manufacturing process’ overall sustainability.
In the perspective of mainstream fashion and the textile industries, the idea of producing garments from bacterial cellulose or using microbial processes in textile manufacturing is relatively new. Modern methods that directly employ bacteria to create textiles reflect a relatively recent development, even though bacteria have traditionally been utilized in certain traditional textile activities (such as fermentation techniques in making fibers like hemp or linen).
We also find instances of biofabrication, where microorganisms are genetically modified to create certain proteins or polymers that may be spun into fibers or used as coatings for textiles. This process is similar to how researchers at Imperial College London employ bacterial cellulose to build clothing. Numerous research initiatives, both commercial and academic, are moving forward to enhance bacterial textile manufacturing processes, enhance material qualities, and investigate novel uses for these cutting-edge materials in the fashion, healthcare, and other sectors.
Although the idea of employing bacteria-cellulose to make clothes is still in its infancy and confronts difficulties with scalability, affordability, and customer acceptability, it offers a potential path for sustainable innovation in the textile and fashion industries. We could be buying shoes made of bacteria much sooner than you would expect as research into bacterial textiles advances and technology advances. Bacterial textiles have the potential to be a competitive and environmentally friendly substitute for traditional textile materials.
