Buzz
While most closets are stocked with standard fabrics like cotton, rayon, denim, or (unfortunately) polyester, this list uncovers 10 unexpected materials that can actually be transformed into fabric. While no widespread clothing has been made yet, the potential is certainly there.
10. Fermented Wine
Named Micro'be' by its creators, textile artist Donna Franklin and scientist Gary Cass, this fabric is made from a surprising substance: fermented wine. The idea emerged when Cass visited a friend's winery in Australia and discovered a vat of wine contaminated with microbes. Floating on the surface was a skin-like material, which inspired him to say: “We could easily start creating clothing from this!” The first prototype dress was produced in 2007, and the color of the fabric depends on the type of wine used. One issue, however, is the strong odor that the fabric emits. A new version is expected to release later this year, aimed at improving the wearability of the dress.
9. Tofu Waste
By utilizing the hulls of soybeans discarded in the tofu-making process, a fabric is created that can actually be worn—and it already is. Soysilk, a trademarked soy fiber, dominates the market with a variety of uses. To make Soysilk, protein is extracted from soybean patties, then spun into fibers. Soy fabric is often called 'vegetable cashmere' due to its luxurious softness. However, many garments made from Soysilk are blends, as soy fabric lacks the durability of cotton.
8. The Itchiest Fabric You Can Imagine
Researchers at De Montfort University in the UK have created a groundbreaking fabric using a plant most people typically see as a nuisance: stinging nettle. Known as STINGplus, this fabric is praised as 'the most sustainable fabric ever' due to its superior strength (stronger than cotton), its natural fire-resistant properties, and its ability to thrive without pesticides or excessive water. STINGplus is a blend of 25% stinging nettle fibers and 75% wool, earning recognition for being 100% renewable.
7. Countless Tiny Organisms
SeaCell is a cellulose-based fiber made from a unique combination of wood pulp, seaweed, and algae. Developed in 2007 as part of a research project by an Austrian company, SeaCell remains the only product of its kind in the world.
The fabric is claimed to be softer and more breathable than cotton. Studies suggest it may help improve blood circulation to the skin and promote skin cell regeneration, while also transferring nutrients from the seaweed to the skin. Most products made from SeaCell are bras, underwear, or bedding.
6. Pepsi’s Waste
In their search for a solution to the millions of plastic bottles discarded every year, researchers discovered an innovative approach: turning waste into a fiber that can be transformed into clothing. When blended with recycled polyester, Newlife fabric is almost identical to 'virgin' polyester in both texture and construction. It also consumes far less energy to produce than new polyester. Fashion brands have already adopted it, with Giorgio Armani even creating a gown using Newlife fabric for an event in 2012.
5. Coconuts
Coconuts have long provided humans with various useful materials, such as milk, meat, and oil, which have been utilized for millennia. Recently, it has been discovered that coconut shells and fibers can be transformed into fabric. With more than 20 billion coconuts being used annually in the food, medical, and cosmetic sectors, a large amount of waste is produced. Cocona Inc. has now found a way to repurpose these discarded shells, turning them into clothing that, when blended, enhances drying time and odor absorption.
4. Tree Byproducts
Cellulose harvested from the white fir tree is converted into a biodegradable fabric that is praised for offering 'the comfort of silk, the feel of cashmere, and the lightness of linen.' Known as lenpur, this fabric excels at absorbing moisture, which is why it is often found in sportswear. Additionally, it helps regulate body temperature by keeping the wearer cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, depending on the blend. It also manages bodily odors effectively.
3. Fish Mucus
A creature called the hagfish resides in the ocean and produces mucus, or slime, which it uses to escape from predators if captured. Though not technically a fish, the hagfish has existed for around 500 million years, likely due to the advantages its slime provides. These benefits have now extended to human use.
Douglas Fudge, a researcher at the University of Guelph, and his team have successfully isolated threads from the hagfish’s slime, discovering that it’s 10 times stronger than nylon. While it’s not yet available on the market, the slime is considered a much more affordable fabric compared to other animal-derived materials.
2. Coffee Grounds
Singtex Industrial, a Taiwanese company, has created a fabric from an unexpected source: used coffee grounds. They explored adding coffee grounds to existing fiber blends due to their natural ability to control odors. Surprisingly, the amount of coffee grounds needed for one cup is enough to make three T-shirts. Currently, this fabric is primarily used in sportswear because it is UV-resistant and quick-drying.
1. Sweet Corn
In 2005, NatureWorks LLC, based in Nebraska, introduced Ingeo fiber. This fiber is made by extracting sugar from corn (just 0.04 percent of the annual corn crop) and transforming it through a process called polymerization, which turns the sugar into plastic. The resulting plastic strands are formed into pellets, which are used like standard petroleum-based plastics but also find their way into clothing and bedding. A major advantage of Ingeo fiber is that it requires 68 percent less energy to produce than polyester or nylon.
