Biotechnology In Fashion

Looking good has never been this green.

Why is There a Need?

The fashion industry is ever-changing and filled with, bright, bold and colorful ideas. Millions of people around the world take part in creating or developing their own sense of individuality through pieces of clothing put together to achieve a certain look. Although the fashion industry is liberating, there is a harsh reality behind all of the glamour. The fashion industry is the 2nd most polluting in the world and its lack of consciousness about the trail of waste is destroying our planet.

The solution to such a problem is sustainable fashion. Fashion that aims to reduce the environmental footprint being left behind. The industry however cannot achieve this on it's own, it needs help from science, engineering, and technology to combat all of the clothing consumption and waste being produced. That is where biotechnology steps in to reduce resource consumption and create biodegradable clothing.

History

Although the application of biotechnology in fashion is quite young, strides have been made to reduce resource consumption and facilitate the recycling of clothes, while also encouraging the production of biodegradable products. polyester and synthetic materials are being replaced with those made of Mycelium and Microsilk. Enzymes have now been chosen as the preferable method to lighten jeans over stone-washing jeans. None of these innovations however would have come about without sustainable movements from the past which brought awareness to the devastation occurring on our planet because of the textile industry, or without the scientists who devoted their lives to biotechnology.

Synthetic VS. Bio-Friendly Materials

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They are not easily biodegradable, typically synthetic fabrics take on the same role as plastics in other industries. Synthetic Fabrics are also estimated to last about 20-200 years before breaking down... that’s means our great grandchildren generation will live to see our waste VS. using bio materials to cut down degrading time by degrading within the year they are thrown away, and not harming land and oceanic wildlife
The misconception would be that if synthetic materials last so long I can use them more than biodegradable clothing? Wrong, most synthetic fabrics were made for short term use, for example synthetic materials receive and hang on to bacteria, most synthetic clothes increase in odor the more there worn, leading many to simply abandon their clothes after a short period of time VS. May last decades because of sturdiness, and are typically made from natural fibers such as bamboo which are breathable and retain less bacteria.
Synthetic Fabric may encourage poor labor conditions coincidentally companies that are not worker (union) friendly support the use of synthetic fabric such as polyester Nylon, Acrylic, Rayon, Microfiber for a lower production price VS. many biotechnology companies whose focus is not making the most revenue but finding the most sustainable products