The fashion industry is responsible for vast volumes of waste globally every year – a problem that is concerning a growing number of designers.
One of them is Valdís Steinarsdóttir, an Icelandic designer who has created gelatinous garments to help solve the problem.
The vest tops sourced from gelatin or agar and red algae were introduced at the DesignMarch festival in Reykjavík. The designer says that when the clothes are no longer needed, the jelly clothing can be melted down to create new items.
“This method of making clothes definitely challenges us to stop and rethink our current manufacturing methods,” said Steinarsdóttir. “It proposes a technique that eliminates excess scraps and synthetic materials.”
The jelly clothing vest tops are made by mixing the gelling agents with water, naturally dyed and using sugar alcohol to create flexibility. Then the garments are put into a mould to set the shape. Steinarsdóttir also says that the vest tops can last for a period of time, based on how the wearer uses them.
“I would like people to be able to use the material as often as possible and take responsibility for treating the material in a way that will make it last,” she added. “If you then feel that the material has reached the final stage in its life cycle, you can let it biodegrade.”
The jelly vest tops dissolve in hot water and can biodegrade within just weeks.
Further reading: Clothes made from recycled plastic bottles are safe.
