10. Implications and applications#

GROUNDED#

GROWING FIBERS - SYMBIOSIS

Inspiration#

Symbiosis between species to understand that we are all part of nature

“Symbiosis: interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, as mutual beneficial relationship.”

Aim#

Re-shape natural resources & explore raw materials to create textiles that allows us to be closer to nature, being consicous of their life cycle, continuing their story as well as re-learn crafts skills (as growing vegetables and weaving manually) and clothe ourselves without costing the Earth.

I want to explore and understand the communication between human and nature as a kind of emotional and artistic act, as we are all part of the whole natural system existing in our planet, and we can make a circuar cycle out of it. Moreover, I want to influence the understanding of the interaction with natural resources together with my textile background.

The basis of the project involves the creation of growing sprouts/plants on weaved textiles (clothes) in order to be closer to nature and highlight how different it feels to wear living materials.

I´ll try to achieve this by:

√ creating a healthy integration of nature and culture

√ highlighting the values of a circular economy, combining research and innovation to enhance the well-being of the environment and people through the entire life cycle of the product

√ considering every stage, from production to use and disposal

√ developing regional fiber systems that protect the health of our biosphere by coexisting harmfully

√ encouraging sustainability and creativity in our materials, while underlining the social practice that supports it

√ support educational and environmental arts labs that continues to research, teach, experiment, consult, and encourage regenerative design practices for textiles and fashion

√ promoting social, ecological and cultural development

Philosophy, Values & Ethics#

o DESIGN FROM THE MATERIALS

As a designer with a sustainable perspective, I think that we should get envolved in the whole cycle of production. From fibers to fabrics, from fabrics to garments and from garments to the customers use of them. So it’s about taking care of the whole life cycle of what we produce. The same when producing food. Getting involved in the whole process and creating our own materials is the best starting point to control the whole chain in order to make it sustainable. Also, if you create your own material, possibilities are endless, and you can design managing resources to reach whatever you want to create.

Raw materials are the first step. If we can manage to do it with no chemicals envolved as pesticides, animal or plants suffering, good & healthy working conditions, and without pollution, we can reach a sustainable beggining.

The next step is processing those resources, without polluting the water as well as being concious of the use of energy envolved in the process. The same in the manufacturing processes, where you have to manage energy and waste in a responsible way.

Also, we can affirm this project is as well zero waste, in the production and in the whole cycle. You can wear it, eat the sprouts if you want or throw the whole piece to the ground and it will turn out in compost.

Fibers give us the physical means to build identity through the clothes story telling. Moreover, they carry on them the synthesis of the existent resources and the human effort. On the other hand the mainstream but real phrase, ‘we are what we eat’. So if we combine them we can reach a nice story.

Also, materials involved in the creation of any product are the ones that make possible the diffusion of the message you want to transmit through the senses that perceive it. In this case feeling the sprouts roots over your skin, smelling them and the visual impact of wearing a growing garden.

o EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER LIVING SPECIES

Since they start growing, you see their life evolving, from seeds to little sprouts, growing every day a little bit till you can see sparklings of green on the top. Then leaves appear and you see them growing every milimeter, looking after them, caring about their lives. So there’s a shift as you start empathizing with those little sprouts and feel life-giving energies that come back to you; as when taking care of plants at your place, if you are conscious of energies sorrounding you, you feel it clearly.

I believe this is the first step of the bonding, being the next step to emphatize with them. Thinking of them from their point of view, at least trying to as we have no idea as they feel like, but, do they feel? Definitely something is going on, since its not the same when you talk to your plants and treat them nicely than if you don’t.

Moreover there’s an explicit symbiosis between humans and nature, and how we mutually benefit the other in this art piece. The wearer’s will exhale carbon dioxide to the embedded plant life which in turn gives off oxygen.

o ENCOURAGE CRAFT SKILLS

Growing & taking care of plants and weaving/knitting manually. The yarn can be sold alone so you can weave/knit your own piece.

o FEEL LIFE GROWING OVER US

How does it feels? In the first place we have to consider the texture and how it feels to have out skin in contact with plants.Though it’s not just superficial, it’s about energies. Living energies will sorround us, dressing our bodies, covering them, protecting them. Imagine this could be viable in the future. How it will be? Can we merge with plants as another skin?

I believe plants carry a story with them, as well as tons of energies that are evolving, cells that are reproducing, changing, mutating. And so, for sure it will feel different to cover ourselves with nature.

Product-Service System#

It’s a product system that can be supported by some kind of service if needed, though it’s not specifically a service to provide. The product will be sold as a kit with all the instructions needed to make it grow.

Biodegradable garments with growing sprouts that allows you to get involved in the life cycle of plants, by taking care of them and see them grow, with the objective of emphatizing with them and with nature, encouraging the symbiosis.

The garment will come with a biodegradable kit that includes:

o Weaved piece

o Hanger (pine resin and food waste composites – create different ones)

o Sprayer

o Packaging – biodegradable box that bends and works as the structure that supports the hanger and as the recipient for the wáter that falls from the garment. On the bended part it will have the instructions with the steps of the germinating process

Customer’s profile#

  • nature lover
  • aim to achieve sustainability as a way of life
  • value crafts
  • no age or sex boundaries
  • sensitive & emotional
  • interested in health & well-being

Product journey - Circular economy – life cycle of the product#

  • fibers obtention (organic suppliers)
  • seeds obtention (raw)
  • design the garment
  • spin the yarn
  • weave/knit the piece
  • delivered to the customer
  • set up of the kit – box as a scaffold to support the garment
  • the piece will be watered for at leat 7/10
  • the garmen will be wore

  • different paths options

    • the sprouts will be eaten if desired or put it on the earth to make them grow bigger

    • continue to be wore without the plants

    • transformed into compost 100% biodegradable

Customer’s journey#

  • buy the piece
  • set up the box & put the garment on the hanger
  • water it for 7/10 days – take care of it
  • emphatize with the growing lifes & take care of them
  • wear the garment

  • different paths options:

    • eat the sprouts if desired or put the piece on the earth to make them grow bigger

    • continue to be wore without the plants

    • compost - 100% biodegradable

Who is involved#

Production:

Materials providers:

o   100% organic without pesticides, with local production and fair trade:

  • wool provider – still to be found

  • cotton provider – still to be found

  • seeds provider – still to be found

Machines: 

o    Hilo Machine: open source machine from Studio Hilo, hacked in order to add the mechanism which will add the seeds before spinning it.

o    Loom

Distribution: 

o    Post mail

Post-selling service: 

o    Email support in case the customer need it, though everything will be explained in detail in the kit to avoid problems. One bought, the growing will be in charge of the customer

End of use: 

o    Compost

Research#

A product designer with a degree in fiber science and apparel design. Her “Chia Vest,” is a hooded muslin garment impregnated with sprouting chia seeds.

Soilless aeroponic growing: aeroponics is a soilless growing method in which the plants’ roots are suspended in mid-air and misted by a nutritious water.

It is the most precise, clean and efficient growth technique ensuring unparalleled control. In addition, it saves more than 95% water compared to outdoor farming, uses less fertiliser than any other alternative, does not pollute and eliminates the up to 40% food waste in the traditional food supply chain.