Microbes-artists

Faber Futures uses live bacteria to color fabrics

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

Under the right conditions, Streptomyces coelicolor bacteria produce a pigment that colors the fabric in pink, purple and blue patterns. It does not require any chemicals and a minimum of water, which makes the process environmentally friendly.

Natsay designer Audrey Chiesa has been working with Streptomyces coelicolor soil bacteria since 2011. As noted Wired, she views her work with S.coelicolor as a partnership. When dyeing fabrics, Chiesa cannot predict in advance what patterns will turn out. According to her, bacteria are mainly responsible for the final design.

This year, Chiesa opened the Faber Futures biotech laboratory in London, which aims to help other people develop environmentally friendly ways of producing fabrics and other goods.

In addition, Faber Futures intends to develop an ethical framework for working with living organisms. The laboratory is already working with other biotech startups, as well as clothing and food manufacturers. 

According to the designer, biological technologies are the most advanced in the world and can be used in almost any field. The designer hopes that they will help fabric manufacturers to abandon oil-based materials and reduce the amount of waste.

Ginkgo Bioworks believes that bacteria can be "reconfigured" to produce any necessary substance, from perfumes to fertilizers. In addition, the company plans to produce medicinal antibodies and mammalian cells "on order" – for researchers and pharmaceutical laboratories.

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