What if your clothes could clean themselves, repair small bits of damage and even change colour? Researchers in China are exploring exactly that with a new textile made from living fungus.
Developed by researchers at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, the textile uses mycelium, the network of fine threads that makes up the main body of a fungus.
The fungus-based fabric can renew parts of its surface, take on different colours, and eventually biodegrade, giving designers a potential alternative to conventional textiles.
The material’s ability to repair itself comes from the mycelium. After being dried, the fungal material enters a ‘dormant’ state. Give it a nutrient solution made from potato water, however, and it can start growing again.
New fungal threads spread across the surface, allowing the material to partially repair itself.
The researchers have already demonstrated what this could look like in fashion. Berlin-based designer Peelshere created a prototype dress using several versions of the mycelium textile, including sections grown with brewer’s yeast.
The yeast gives parts of the dress a natural blue colour, removing the need for conventional synthetic dyes.
Peelshere founder YouYang Song developed the dress’s overall design, while her China-based colleague Ruochen Wang handled the cutting and construction.
For now, though, this is more experimental fashion than something you will find hanging in your wardrobe anytime soon.
Researcher Li said the material could be particularly useful for conceptual fashion, accessories, decorative textiles, exhibition pieces, and biodegradable packaging.
However, there are still some hurdles before getting this material mass-produced.
“Further improvements in durability, moisture resistance, safety, and manufacturing consistency would be needed before it could be considered for routine clothing or permanent architectural use,” Li said.
It sounds like sci-fi for now. But in this case, the future of fashion could literally be alive.
