K-LAPSE
K-Lapse is a bio-fashion project realized starting from the idea of using Kombucha leather* to be combined with another material commonly used in the clothing industry. To test its versatility in the fashion of everyday wear, by creating a comfortable and versatile piece of garment that takes full advantage of the characteristics of this vegan material.
Thanks to the support of a multimedia biotechnologist who grew the base material tailored in a laboratory, it was possible to create clothing patterns without speculating anything of the material and testing the different thicknesses, until finding the most favorable to be sewn and with a good resistance.
Thanks to the support of a multimedia biotechnologist who grew the base material tailored in a laboratory, it was possible to create clothing patterns without speculating anything of the material and testing the different thicknesses, until finding the most favorable to be sewn and with a good resistance.
*This material is made with fermented black tea, that becomes a SCOBY agent (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) that is fed and raised with a sugary organic tea, until it is thick enough to be dried and used as a solid piece of material.
The main focus was to create a wearable dress in which the kombucha leather was used to create functional details, such as the pockets, very capacious that exploit the natural transparency and resistance of this material. Furthermore, in contact with the skin, this leather softens thanks to the human warmth, and it adapts well to the body and it gives a pleasant sensation.
The parts of the material in direct contact with the body are the back and the sternum, which also act as closures for the dress. During the assembling of the pattern, the kombucha leather was treated like a normal fabric, sewn together with the neoprene that made up the remaining area of the piece, while the lower part of the pockets were sewn by hand to hide the seams inside them.
A crucial aspect of this material is its biodegradability in contact with water. This aspect has been a great challenge for the biotechnologist, who had to upholster the kambucha leather with a nano-coating, which allowed the leather parts to become water resistant. The current piece has resisted a hand wash at about 30 degrees, without being damaged.
The parts of the material in direct contact with the body are the back and the sternum, which also act as closures for the dress. During the assembling of the pattern, the kombucha leather was treated like a normal fabric, sewn together with the neoprene that made up the remaining area of the piece, while the lower part of the pockets were sewn by hand to hide the seams inside them.
A crucial aspect of this material is its biodegradability in contact with water. This aspect has been a great challenge for the biotechnologist, who had to upholster the kambucha leather with a nano-coating, which allowed the leather parts to become water resistant. The current piece has resisted a hand wash at about 30 degrees, without being damaged.
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