Scientists develop authentic ‘tea shirt’
August 22nd, 2010 - 6:51 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 22 (IANS) Scientists and fashion designers have developed a new fabric that is grown in a soup of green tea, sugar and other nutrients over the course of several days.
It has been dubbed the authentic “tea shirt” - an item from a range of clothing made from Britain’s favourite beverage.
The material with a leathery texture is extremely lightweight and has been used to make shirts, jackets, dresses and even shoes, reports the Telegraph.
Bacteria added to the green tea and sugar solution produce long filaments of cellulose that clump together to form thin mats of fabric that float on top of the mixture.
Once dried, it becomes see-through and similar in appearance to papyrus. However, it can be treated, dyed and moulded to produce different textures and effects.
Scientists of the Imperial College London have been working with fashion designers from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, to create the fabric for use in the fashion industry.
Paul Freemont, molecular biologist at Imperial College said: “The bacteria naturally produce these fibres of cellulose and they are laid down into a mat that floats to the surface.”
“The mixture produces quite an uneven and random fabric. So we are working on ways of making it more consistent. Once it is dried, it feels just like leather and is really tough. You can’t tear it apart,” Freemont said.
Over a period of two or three weeks, these fibres meld together to form thin, wet sheets of cellulose that toughen as they are dried out.
The project is being led by Suzanne Lee, a senior research fellow and designer at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, who has already used the material to make clothes.
Lee said the idea to create the fabric came to her after a chance meeting with a biologist several years ago.
She said: “He explained that microorganisms can be used to spin cellulose and that in turn could form a textile-like material.”
“I realised this answered many of the pressing issues associated with contemporary throwaway fashion such as sustainability and end of life disposal,” she added.
- Spray-on futuristic fabrics make their debut - Sep 15, 2010
- Now, spray-on seamless fabric to change how clothes are worn - Sep 15, 2010
- 'Trained' bacteria that turn veggies, fruits into bioplastics! - Nov 20, 2010
- Indian designer Ritesh Kumar at Milan Fashion Week - Sep 25, 2011
- Soon, 'green' cars made from pineapples, bananas! - Mar 28, 2011
- Now, futuristic car that uses body as battery - Sep 28, 2010
- Pound of aerogel can ferry half tonne boatloads - Mar 26, 2012
- From huts to high streets: Khadi comes of age (Feature) - Sep 30, 2011
- Bacteria 'trained' to convert bio-wastes into plastic - Nov 22, 2010
- Bacterial cellulose may help develop artificial blood vessels - Dec 23, 2009
- Oz scientists' theory brings invisibility cloaks closer to reality - Aug 29, 2010
- Turn on unisex fashion this winter - Nov 24, 2011
- Crossover: Fashion feeds abstract art (With Image) - Mar 19, 2012
- Tweaked E coli can produce low-cost fuel - Jan 28, 2010
- Aspiring designers impresses at international fashion fest - Mar 22, 2012
Tags: cellulose, central saint martins, central saint martins college, central saint martins college of art, central saint martins college of art and design, chance meeting, college of art and design, design london, fashion designers, fashion industry, freemont, green tea, imperial college london, leathery texture, molecular biologist, research fellow, saint martins college, sugar solution, suzanne lee, wet sheets