Researchers seek to add flexibility to red wine dress
The researchers behind a textile derived from red wine have said they are currently working on adding flexibility to make it more useful for the fashion industry.
Gary Cass of Micro’be’ created a dress from red wine while working with the University of Western Australia in 2011. Bacteria ferments the alcohol into fibres that can be extracted and fashioned into clothing. To make the dress, pieces were draped over a dummy and left to knit together and dry – creating a seamless, stitchless garment.
“The material has the potential to compete against other textiles by offering a low production cost material for fashion that is adaptable and has the potential to replace synthetic materials in manufacture,” said Mr Cass. “As the fabric is naturally grown it minimises the use of machinery and offers a green alternative to traditional, carbon-producing textile manufacture.”
He told sportstextiles.com that he is now concentrating on improving flexibility for the fashion industry and is looking into using it for tissue reconstruction.
See the latest edition of WSA magazine for a look at the current state of ‘bio’ textiles.
Pictured: The red wine dress, part of the Micro’be’ project
