'Second Skin' is a living clothing line that expands when a person sweats, allowing the clothing to become more breathable when need be. Designed in a partnership between MIT, New Balance and the Royal College of Art, the clothing line uses a bacteria that responds to humidity.
The bacteria is called Bacillus subtilis natto and is integrated into the clothing by printing it onto a biofilm that then lays on the clothing. Flaps of clothing with the biofilm can curl or fold up away from the body when the person is sweating.
The flaps react to the smallest bit of moisture, curling up like a wet piece of paper. The leader of the BioLogic lab, Lining Yao, looks at the relationship of biology and fashion as one that has not yet been tapped. Looking to the future, things like bioluminescent or pollution-eating bacteria could be sewn into living clothing, giving it a whole other function.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Living Clothing
- The integration of bacteria into clothing allows for responsive and interactive garments.
- Moisture-reacting Materials
- By utilizing bacteria that respond to humidity, fabrics can adapt and provide better breathability based on the wearer's needs.
- Biology-fashion Collaboration
- Exploring the intersection of biology and fashion opens up possibilities for innovative and functional designs.
Where This Applies
- Fashion and Apparel
- The fashion and apparel industry could embrace living clothing as a new way to enhance comfort and performance.
- Textile Manufacturing
- Textile manufacturers have opportunities to develop new moisture-reacting materials that improve the functionality of clothing.
- Biotechnology
- Developing and integrating bacteria-based materials into clothing presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the biotechnology industry.
