Bio-Leather
Personal Research Experiment . Los Angeles, California . 2018
Material : Lasercut 1/16” dried bacterial cellulose biofilm
Dimension [in Inches]: 4 x 4 x 1.5
Bio-Pleat explores how science and design can merge to grow and shape textiles from living cultures. Inspired by innovators like Suzanne Lee, I experimented with cultivating bacterial cellulose using kombucha fermentation to create home-grown fabric. Through trial and error, I discovered how factors like sugar levels, culture density, and warmth influence the growth of the biofilm. Once harvested, I tested ways to dry and sculpt the material—using mold, laser-cutting and folding it by hand. This project is an open-ended investigation into how biology might help us reimagine what fabric can be. Areas I would like to explore further are manipulating biofilm’s structure, texture, and form by introducing different materials such as lace, metal mesh and natural fibers during the fermentation process.
Process
Day 1: Two containers A and B - Kombucha culture placed in fermentation liquid (water, brewed green tea, sugar and vinegar).
Day 7: Translucent biofilm and fermentation bubbles accumulate on the surface.
Day 12: Container A: Biofilm has reached about 1/8” of thickness. Sample A is harvested.
Test 1: Sample A is molded onto cardstock paper and left to dry. Dried biofilm adhers to the mold and tears during demolding.
Test 2: Sample A is molded onto a resin form and left to dry. To ease demolding, the biofilm is slightly misted. The biofilm demolds but loses the geometric details.
Day 24: Container B: Biofilm has reached about 1/2” of thickness. Sample B is harvested and stretched to air dry.
Sample B Biofilm has dried to a thickness of 1/16". It's translucent and highly textured.
A folding pattern is lasercut onto sample B
Sample B is folded into an origami. The object is soft and leather-like. It smells edible and citrusy. The crease lines are flexible.
In 2025, after 7 years, the object has darkened in color but it has retain its softness, flexibility and scent.